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Journalism of Courage
Plasmodium vivax, one of the parasites causing malaria, which till date was thought to be merely causing infections, is believed to have turned fatal and could be behind the “mysterious fever” causing deaths in Kanpur.
About 50 people have died so far due to the fever in Kanpur. It has spread across 150 villages, mainly in four blocks — Amraudha, Malasa, Dherapur and Sarvankheda — home to 3 lakh people. Attributing the cause of deaths to malaria, experts in the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) are investigating if this strain, which otherwise is less virulent and doesn’t cause deaths, has started killing people or if any new strain has emerged in the area.
“Generally, plasmodium vivax which is widely present in Kanpur doesn’t cause mortality. If investigations show that this is the only strain circulating in the area, then it is a cause of concern,” said Dr Shiv Lal, Director of NICD.
Preliminary investigations had pointed out that Hepatitis E, a form of liver disease, may be behind the deaths. According to experts in NICD, while Hepatitis E could partly be responsible for the deaths, the major cause is malaria. Last month, a team of experts from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBCP) and NICD had visited the affected area.
“Preliminary results from Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow had confirmed that the deaths were due to Hepatitis E. But now, more samples have been brought for investigation,” said an official. Experts from Delhi had also visited the spot and collected sera samples of the people down with fever, which will be investigated at NICD.
“Usually, P Falciparum is a deadly virus which kills people. But it will be strange if vivax is behind the deaths. We will investigate the matter with the help of National Institute of Malaria. A team from the institute is already in Kanpur,” another expert said.
