The Hindu : Karnataka News : Mysterious virus in Chitradurga district

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 27, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka

Mysterious virus in Chitradurga district

Staff Correspondent

30 people admitted to district hospital since the past week

Victims are suffering from high fever, headache, body pain and vomiting
The cases are mostly reported in Challakere, Hiriyur and Hosdurga

Chitradurga: For the past one week, the District Hospital here has been receiving cases of people being infected with unknown virus.

According to hospital authorities, over 30 people have been admitted to the hospital, of them the condition of four was said to be critical. They have been referred to hospitals in Davangere and Bangalore.

Several patients said that they were suffering from high fever, headache, body pain and sometimes vomiting. “My son had mild fever on the first day, but the temperature increased in coming days. We consulted a local doctor who gave medicine for nearly a week, but since his treatment did not work, I brought him to district hospital here,” said Narayanswamy, father of a patient from Challakere.

District Surgeon Kamareddy, who confirmed it as a viral disease, could neither confirm the name of disease nor the cause.

“The symptoms clarify that it is not malaria, typhoid, chikungunya or dengue, we precisely cannot say what it is,” District Surgeon Kamareddy, who confirmed it as a viral disease, said.

The virus is largely seen in Challakere, Hiriyur and Hosdurga as most of the patients are from these taluks.

Situation

District Health Officer Thimmareddy told The Hindu that the department had received details from the hospital, but since the situation was not alarming, it was waiting before taking any action. “We are not receiving more cases from only one place, they are isolated and sporadic.”

He said that as a precaution, the department would send the blood samples to the National Institute of Virology, Bangalore, or the Vijaynagar Institute of Medical Sciences, Bellary, for analysis. The report was expected to come within a week.

Based on it, the department would take necessary action, he said.

Dr. Timmareddy has advised people to maintain hygiene in their surroundings, , not to allow water to stagnant and stop consuming unhygienic items.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka