The National Institute of Virology in Pune declared Tuesday there is no Hantavirus in the flood ravaged city of Surat, 250 km from here in south Gujarat.
Additional director of NIV, M.S. Chaddha said: "NIV collected 46 blood samples from Surat city, and not even a single sample contained Hantavirus."The medical authorities in Surat, including NIV, have not yet clarified why two persons had died last week. Dipak Tarsariya (24) and Kanji Ghaskata (36), both the residents of Katargam area in Surat, died last Tuesday. Their deaths were feared caused by Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.
Meanwhile, 17 others have lost their lives due to leptospirosis during last 15 days, after the floodwater receded. Sixty-six cases of leptospirosis have been reported in government hospitals hitherto in Surat.
Meanwhile, the viral fever chikungunya has created an epidemic like situation here, and a 60-year-old woman Khairunnisha Mehndi Hussain Banga, was reported to have succumbed to the disease.
Source-IANS
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