Similar Disease Killed many in Kashmir In 1978
No monitoring on outsiders coming by road’
With Swine Flu, the HINI taking a heavy toll in the Valley, a similar epidemic broke-out in 1978 when 1000 people had died due to a similar disease.
According to the medicos, it was seen then that the epidemic had come from outside through laborers and rag-pickers as they are afflicted with communicable diseases due to their in-hygienenic lifestyle Despite that, there has been no check on outsiders who come to the Valley every year in lakhs.
The government has already come under sharp criticism from different quarters for its failure to take the measures to check the spread of HINI deadly disease.
Even though, a group of doctors have been posted at Srinagar airport to identify any HINI patient, but no monitoring is being done on outsiders, who come in trucks and buses to the Valley.Most of these who come by road are laborers and rag pickers and come from endemic zones of many diseases.
“These outsiders who live in slums in unhygienic conditions are prone to diseases and carry high risk of HINI diseases,” the medicos said.The Swine Flu has become a major health concern with around 140 have been reported HINI positive and at least seven people have died due to this deadly diseases.
Several epidemics broke out over the years in the Valley, the medicos said their origin was from outside.“Similarly, the Swine Flu that broke out in the Valley and these outsiders could have been infected with this disease,” the doctors believe.They said the government has failed to keep check on these laborers and rag-pickers.
The health officials said, people who visit the Valley by air are often seen as health conscious and carry less chances of such diseases. “The government’s top priority should be to check on outside laborers and rag pickers to prevent them from entering into the Valley who are infected of such diseases.”
The Valley witnesses arrival of lakhs oa huge number outsiders who colonise most of the vacant lands and erect slums for their dwelling there.
The medicos said in most of the cases, they are afflicted with communicable diseases and spread the infection in the vicinity where they stays-in as their hygiene is very poor.
“A proper screening should be done to these people to identify if they are HINI patient or any another diseases. Even we don’t know whether any one among them is HINI as they are not health conscious nor visit the hospitals and put a great threat to the local populace where stays-in,” the doctors said.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Rohit Kansal assured that he will look into the matter. “I will raise this issue with the concerned officials,” Kansal told
