LOWER DIR: Health authorities have launched an investigation into reports of a mysterious febrile illness in several mountainous villages of Adenzai tehsil after residents claimed that seven people, including six children and a woman, died over the past two weeks.

Residents of Khanpur, Asbanr and adjoining villages, including Baramikay, Bochakay, Shadam, and Shorshing, told reporters on Wednesday that a number of people had developed high fever, breathing difficulties and other complications. Several patients were shifted to hospitals in Chakdara, Swat and elsewhere for treatment.

Residents expressed concern over the situation and urged the provincial health department and the district administration to send medical teams to determine the cause of the illness and establish emergency medical camps in the affected areas.

However, district health officer Dr Niaz Mohammad Afridi said that preliminary findings did not indicate that all reported deaths were linked to a single outbreak.

He said two children who died in Baramikay had been born prematurely, while two young men from Bochakay were receiving treatment for meningitis in Peshawar.

A woman reported among the deceased had been suffering from tuberculosis, he added.

The DHO said reports of an acute febrile illness, suspected to be a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals, were received from Bochakay village. Health teams had visited the area and collected samples for laboratory analysis, he said.

He added that anti-dengue and anti-malaria spraying had already been carried out in Bochakay and Baramikay as a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, on the directives of deputy commissioner Basharat Ahmad, a joint team comprising officials from the health, livestock and public health departments was formed under additional deputy commissioner (relief) Syed Akram Shah to investigate the situation.

Officials said the team would revisit the affected villages, gather information from residents and elders, and submit a report after completing its inquiry.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026