Pune scientists to study UP deaths

A team of senior scientists from the Pune-based RCMR Virology Research Institute will reach Saharanpur tomorrow to study the mysterious feve...

A team of senior scientists from the Pune-based RCMR Virology Research Institute will reach Saharanpur tomorrow to study the mysterious fever which has already claimed the lives of 51 children in Saharanpur, Baghpat and Muzaffarnagar.

Two scientists of the institute, along with a team of doctors led by the state’s Director General, Health, J.P. Sharma, will examine people in the affected areas. On the directive of State Health Minister Raja Mahendra Aridaman, Sharma had gone to Pune to discuss the disease with RCMR director R.C. Misra and other doctors. The minister has asked Sharma to camp in the affected areas till the disease is brought under control.

Sources said action has been taken against two doctors. The government has removed the Chief Medical Superintendent and a paediatrician of the district and attached them with the headquarters.

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They said action may be taken against some more doctors after the Director, Medical, Ram Babu, who is conducting an inquiry into the deaths, submits his report.

Sharma said the disease toll has reached 51 and not over 100 as claimed by a section of the press.

Minister of State for Health Vinod Tiwari, who visited the affected areas, said he has directed the officers concerned to check the disease on a war footing.

Saharanpur and Muzaffarnagar has a history of a similar fever and symptoms of this disease were also noted in the Terai region, he added. The minister said that insecticides are being sprayed and fogging done in Muzaffarnagar city as well as rural areas. Free medicines are also being distributed from government dispensaries.

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