PATNA: Ambiguity still prevails over the mystery disease which has claimed more than 50 lives of children in Muzaffarpur district.
Though, encephalitis was supposed to be the disease, which has now taken an endemic form, preliminary reports of the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, has cast doubts over it. Even the exact nature of virus has not been determined yet. The disease broke out on June 14 with doctors applying line of treatment based on the symptoms of the disease.
Health secretary Sanjay Kumar said, "The report of NIV team, Pune, which was recently in the state to collect samples, confirms absence of three viruses tested for. The three viruses ruled out by the NIV, Pune, are: Japanese encephalitis virus, Chandipura virus and Nepah virus." He said that though it is certain that the children who have died so far had reported inflammation of brain, whether it is encephalitis or what are the exact causes of the disease, are yet to be ascertained. Till now, blood and cerebrospinal fluid tests have been carried out, Kumar said, adding the NIV, Pune, has now asked for brain tissue samples saying it would help to diagnose the disease in a better way.
Health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey, too, had earlier denied the disease was encephalitis stating anything confirmatory could be said only after receiving the reports of tests. A WHO team also visited the affected villages at Muzaffarpur, recently. The team met the local people and tried to find out the cause of the mystery disease. They also collected information about the disease which has bewildered the state's health authorities and doctors.
The spurt in cases of kalazar in the past few days at Muzaffarpur and its adjoining areas with more than hundred kalazar patients being admitted to different hospitals in the district has made the situation worse. The district also reported one death due to kalazar on Sunday. Although, the government has taken to DDT and malathion spray on war footing in the affected areas, spurt in kalazar cases could prove to be nightmarish for the government already tackling the mystery disease.
Though, encephalitis was supposed to be the disease, which has now taken an endemic form, preliminary reports of the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, has cast doubts over it. Even the exact nature of virus has not been determined yet. The disease broke out on June 14 with doctors applying line of treatment based on the symptoms of the disease.
Health secretary Sanjay Kumar said, "The report of NIV team, Pune, which was recently in the state to collect samples, confirms absence of three viruses tested for. The three viruses ruled out by the NIV, Pune, are: Japanese encephalitis virus, Chandipura virus and Nepah virus." He said that though it is certain that the children who have died so far had reported inflammation of brain, whether it is encephalitis or what are the exact causes of the disease, are yet to be ascertained. Till now, blood and cerebrospinal fluid tests have been carried out, Kumar said, adding the NIV, Pune, has now asked for brain tissue samples saying it would help to diagnose the disease in a better way.
Health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey, too, had earlier denied the disease was encephalitis stating anything confirmatory could be said only after receiving the reports of tests. A WHO team also visited the affected villages at Muzaffarpur, recently. The team met the local people and tried to find out the cause of the mystery disease. They also collected information about the disease which has bewildered the state's health authorities and doctors.
The spurt in cases of kalazar in the past few days at Muzaffarpur and its adjoining areas with more than hundred kalazar patients being admitted to different hospitals in the district has made the situation worse. The district also reported one death due to kalazar on Sunday. Although, the government has taken to DDT and malathion spray on war footing in the affected areas, spurt in kalazar cases could prove to be nightmarish for the government already tackling the mystery disease.