Jaundice Outbreak Hits Several Areas of…..

A jaundice outbreak has been reported in several areas of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, with health authorities confirming contaminated water as the primary cause.The affected areas include Pahnoo, Trenz, Turkawangam, Sedow, Pehlipora, and parts of Shopian town. Over the past few days, dozens of residents have reported symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and yellowing of the eyes, sparking public concern over the rapid spread of the disease.Doctors have linked the outbreak to unsafe drinking water. A senior official from the Health Department told Kashmir News Trust that preliminary investigations suggest sewage may be seeping into drinking water pipelines. “Jaundice is largely waterborne, and initial findings point to contamination due to leakage and poor sanitation. Water samples from local supply schemes are being tested to identify specific sources,” the official said.In response, the Health Department has issued an advisory urging residents to boil water before consumption, maintain personal hygiene, and seek immediate medical help if symptoms arise. “Avoiding untreated water and following basic preventive measures can significantly reduce the risk,” the advisory stated.Anger is mounting among locals, who blame the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department for negligence. “We’ve been complaining for months about leaking pipelines and unhygienic conditions near water sources, but nothing was done. Now people are getting sick,” said a resident of Turkawangam.Doctors at the District Hospital Shopian have described most reported cases as manageable but warn that the outbreak could escalate if the water supply system is not urgently sanitized. “Jaundice is treatable, but delays in treatment can lead to complications. Early diagnosis is key,” one doctor said.The situation has raised concerns among parents, as schools in the affected areas remain open, and children are particularly vulnerable to waterborne infections. Civil society groups have called on the administration to supply clean drinking water via tankers until the pipelines are disinfected.Officials confirmed that teams from the Health and PHE departments have been dispatched to the affected villages to disinfect water sources and repair faulty lines. Awareness campaigns are also being launched in coordination with local health workers to educate residents about prevention and early detection.