Tragic Hepatitis Outbreak Claims Lives in Golaghat District
Devastating Loss in Chinatoli Village
Office of the Joint Director of Health Services Golaghat (Image: Google)
Chinatoli (Dergaon), Oct 1: A heartbreaking event has unfolded in Chinatoli Habichowa village, located 23 kilometers from Dergaon town, leaving the community in deep sorrow. Two family members succumbed to Hepatitis A and E (HAV and HEV), while another teenager from the same family is currently hospitalized, fighting for their life.
The father, Dilip Saikia, who survived the illness, now faces the painful task of conducting the last rites for his wife and daughter. The atmosphere in Chinatoli Habichowa village has turned somber, enveloped in grief and silence.
Over the last ten days, this family has experienced profound loss. His wife, Himadri Saikia (36), passed away on September 20, followed by their nine-year-old daughter, Kristina Saikia, who died on September 26.
Currently, their 11-year-old son, Tanmay Saikia, is receiving treatment at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital. Dilip Saikia has also tested positive for hepatitis but has since recovered.
Dr. Rajib Ranjan Gogoi, the Joint Director of Health Services in Golaghat, confirmed that all four family members tested positive for Hepatitis A and E and received medical care, but tragically, two of them, including the young girl, did not survive.
“No other villagers have tested positive, and the water sample analysis showed satisfactory results. Since HAV and HEV are treatable, the possibility of toxic hepatitis cannot be dismissed in this case,” the official stated. He emphasized that the use of traditional remedies for jaundice may have contributed to this unfortunate outcome.
Dr. Ranjit Hazarika, SDM&HO (School education) and in-charge DSO, IDSP (Integrated District Surveillance Programme), who visited the site today, suggested that food poisoning might be the underlying cause of the infections.
Health officials noted that while the drinking water source from the PHE Department is generally safe, the family's water collection point lacks hygiene, and prolonged use of contaminated water could have resulted in severe infections. Additionally, environmental pollution from a nearby dairy farm has raised concerns among residents.
In response to the incident, local residents are organizing an awareness meeting to address the situation and discuss environmental issues. The Dergaon Branch of the Assam Science Society has also voiced its concerns, with plans for a team to visit the area on October 2 to evaluate environmental factors, including the family's water collection practices.