An outbreak of gastroenteritis in Sakri village, Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir, has led to the death of a 75-year-old woman and the hospitalization of at least 19 others. Officials confirmed today that the E.coli bacterium has been identified in water samples from the affected area, indicating water contamination as the cause.
The deceased woman, who also suffered from pre-existing co-morbidities, succumbed to the illness, which presented with symptoms like diarrhea. Over the past 72 hours, 19 villagers from Sakri were admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital, Rajouri, all presenting with diarrhea and other gastroenteritis symptoms. A few patients also experienced partial unconsciousness due to dehydration. Two of these patients have since been transferred to GMC Hospital in Jammu for specialized care.
In response to the outbreak, medical teams swiftly mobilized, collecting water samples that subsequently tested positive for E.coli. This incident marks another case of waterborne contamination in the region, drawing parallels to a similar event two weeks ago in Kotli Bagla, where 30 people fell ill. Beyond the hospitalized individuals, a mobile medical team has provided treatment for several others in Sakri village.
