Hepatitis D virus spreads tentacles; 39 more admitted

Two rapid rescue teams from the B J Medical College in Ahmedabad and the Himmatnagar Civil Hospital had visited Modasa on Tuesday and Wednesday,but returned after collecting blood samples of the patients.

HS Patel,the Chief District Health Officer (CDHO) of Sabarkantha,said: “These patients are from across the taluka. The incubation period is between six days and six months. This means patients will keep pouring in for the next six months . Other neighbouring areas might also come in its grip as the virus spreads rapidly within a short period.”

He added: “When affected,a patient can die within seven days. The rapid rescue teams have collected the blood samples and we are awaiting the teams from Pune and NICD to guide us on how to tackle the issue.”

Of the total 39 patients admitted,only six have been discharged. Fourteen others are reportedly out of danger and 14 were admitted on Saturday. Five cases were referred to hospitals in Ahmedabad (Sanjeevani Hospital,VS Hospital,Shrey Hospital,Ankur Hospital and Indus Hospital) and two patients are being treated at the Civil Hospital in Himmatnagar.

The symptoms of Hepatitis D are nausea,loss of appetite,acute weakness,paleness of skin and dark yellow urine. State Deputy Director (Health) S J Gandhi was in Modasa on Friday to take stock of the situation,but the reason for the sudden outbreak remains unknown. Hepatitis D or delta hepatitis is caused by the Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV),a defective RNA virus that can propagate only if Hepatitis B virus is present in the patient’s body. Hepatitis D has the highest mortality rate of all hepatitis infections,to the tune of 20 percent.