Gurgaon: Three fresh hepatitis infections — the first instances of Hepatitis B cases recorded in Chhainsa village of Palwal in recent weeks — have pushed the total number of confirmed cases to 32.
Officials said the three new cases were detected during random screening, which was initiated against the backdrop of seven deaths reported over the past 15 days. Of the 32 cases so far, three are of Hepatitis B, while the remaining infections are Hepatitis C. "As of now, none of the patients has symptoms. We are prescribing medicines for them and immunising everyone against Hepatitis B and C," a senior doctor involved in the exercise said.
Health teams have so far screened more than 800 residents and collected blood samples for viral load testing, which will determine the course and duration of treatment. "Treatment depends on the viral load. If the viral load is low, there is no need for long-term medication. As a precaution, medicines are being given for now. After 10-15 days, those with high viral load will continue treatment, while medicines will be stopped for others," the doctor said.
While the deaths have heightened anxiety in the village, officials said investigations were still underway to establish whether the fatalities were directly caused by hepatitis. In the wake of infections, many villagers have complained about fever, vomiting, body pain and cough.
At present, two patients are admitted to the civil hospital, while the rest are being monitored at home. Officials said those admitted earlier as a precaution have stabilised.
The investigation has also turned the spotlight on possible water contamination. During inspections, the public health department found 25 illegal connections to drinking water pipelines, which led to leakages and raised fears of contamination. Officials said the connections have now been removed, and engineers are checking supply lines for further breaches. "Chlorinated water is being supplied now," an official said.
Water samples collected from six households have also tested positive for E coli, indicating faecal contamination, while earlier tests showed inadequate chlorination in stored water.
Alongside screening, the health department has begun vaccinating close contacts to curb further spread of the infection. "If a parent is positive and children are negative, we are immunising the children as a precaution. Adults in contact areas who test negative are also being immunised," said Satinder Vashisth, the Palwal CMO.
Under a special drive, 80 people were vaccinated on Sunday and 70 on Saturday, while a special OPD tested 193 residents. Officials said most infections were detected among those with close contact with infected persons, with cases more common in the 15-35 age group.
Officials have also flagged other possible routes of transmission. According to them, some village youths working as heavy vehicle drivers in other states may have contracted the infection there due to unsafe sexual practices. "In a few cases, the use of infected syringes for drug use was also detected," an official said, adding that Hepatitis B could also spread through steroid injections administered by unqualified practitioners.
Three medical camps have been set up in and around Chhainsa to ensure access to screening and treatment, while teams are covering nearby villages.
Panic has gripped the village following the rising infections. "All of a sudden, people have started falling ill. First, there were deaths. Now, hepatitis cases are rising. Everyone is worried about the water we have been drinking," said Usman, a villager.
Ipsita Pati is an environment journalist with over a decade of ex...
Read MoreIpsita Pati is an environment journalist with over a decade of experience, currently reporting for The Times of India. She covers climate change, land use, and green laws, with a focus on regulatory accountability. Her work highlights the environmental implications of policy decisions and development on ground.
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