At least 89 inhabitants of the Devar, Warnow, Maidanpora and Sogam villages in Kupwara district of north Kashmir have tested positive for Hepatitis-B.
Official sources told GNS that Health authorities in Kupwara district started mass screening in the affected areas. “89 people have tested positive for hepatitis-B,” Block Medical Officer Sogam Dr Firdous Ahmad told news agency GNS.
“It seems that since 2006 there is growth in the hepatitis cases and it has come to fore that one chemist has been using one syringe for all patients and it is the potential cause of Hepatitis growth since 2006 in the area,” he said.
The BMO said that while action has already been taken against the particular chemist, the authorities were taking all necessary measures to combat the hepatitis.
Sources said that a number of samples were collected during the past several days, out of which 89 samples were found positive for Hepatitis-B. Three of those affected are minors while remaining people are above 35-years of age, they said. (GNS)