Srinagar: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Thursday dismissed the possibility of an infectious pathogen being behind the mysterious disease that has claimed 17 lives in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district over the last month, reported India Today

According to preliminary investigations, officials suggested that unidentified toxins might be the cause.

"As per preliminary investigation conducted by the CSIR lab in Lucknow, it is not any infection, viral or bacterial in nature. Toxins have been found. Now, investigation is underway to ascertain what kind of toxin it is," Dr. Singh was quoted as saying by India Today.

The minister assured that all angles are being probed and that any conspiracy if uncovered, would result in appropriate action.

Deaths in Budhal village prompt containment measures

The deaths, recorded between December 7 and January 19, occurred in three families in the remote Badhaal village of Rajouri.

Authorities declared the area a containment zone on Wednesday and imposed prohibitory orders on public and private gatherings to prevent panic.

Doordarshan Jammu Kasmir reported that the Rajouri administration established 21 quarantine centers. Over 200 people shifted for safety with all necessary facilities in place.

Four more villagers, all close relatives of the affected families, remain hospitalised in critical condition, officials said.

Investigation intensifies

The Ministry of Home Affairs has assembled an 11-member inter-ministerial team to investigate the fatalities.

The team arrived in Rajouri on Sunday, a day after a girl succumbed to the illness at SMGS Hospital in Jammu, raising the death toll to 17.

Patients have exhibited symptoms such as fever, pain, nausea, intense sweating, and loss of consciousness, often resulting in death within days of hospitalisation.

Earlier this week, authorities sealed a local water spring, locally referred to as a "bawli," after samples tested positive for pesticides and insecticides.

Dr. Shuja Qadri, senior epidemiologist and head of the Community Medicines Department at GMC Rajouri, clarified that the deaths were not due to any communicable disease.

The focus has been narrowed to identifying the toxin in food items.

Over 200 food samples have been dispatched to labs nationwide for analysis.

"Hopefully, based on the panel of toxins, the laboratories will be in a position to isolate the toxin within a week or 10 days, and we can easily take the control measures to prevent further deaths," Qadri told PTI.

No evidence of a public health threat

The Jammu and Kashmir government has ruled out a communicable disease of bacterial or viral origin, quelling fears of a public health crisis.

Neurotoxins have been detected in samples from the deceased, prompting the police to establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the affected village on Tuesday to meet residents and assure them of the government's determination to uncover the cause of the fatalities.

"All the tests were conducted and the results revealed that there are no bacteria or viruses," Abdullah stated.