Risk Of Developing Liver Cancer After HCV Treatment

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Deadliest viruses known to mankind :Congo fever claims three lives

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A doctor, nurse and the patient who they were treating died of the Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever caused by a virus. Villagers are being tested and screened for the virus and adequate measures are being taken to check spread of the disease.
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CCHF- Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus its complete information like its incubation period, mode of spread, reserviors, sign and symptoms and treatment


Yesterday on the blog was a report of Hemorrhagic Fever in Western India . As reported ; "A woman died of the insect-transmitted illness two weeks ago in the Gujarat state village of Kolat and a doctor and nurse who treated her later also contracted the illness and died, state Health Minister Jay Narayan Vyas said."

Today ; The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune that is flooded with serum samples from across the states after the outbreak of the Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Gujarat, has said there is no need to panic.
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The 48-year-old Bhiwandi resident was shifted from Jaslok Hospital to Kasturba Hospital on Friday morning after doctors found that the clinical symptoms indicated viral haemorrhagic fever. Alpesh Jain, Sampat Jain’s son, said, “My father is under observation and we are waiting for the doctor’s final report. Though no one in the family is now suffering from fever or any other symptoms, I suffered from fever a few days ago but I am completely fine now.”
The Jains had recently visited Rajasthan but did not halt at any city in Gujarat, where three cases of CCHF have been reported.

The deadly disease has already killed three from Ahmedabad, with the first death occurring in the first week of January 2011. The dead included a 30-year-old woman, the doctor who was treating her, and the nurse who was assisting in her treatment.


BMC alerts hospitals to Congo threat
Sounding a precautionary note against the Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), more commonly known as Congo fever, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sent out an advisory to all civic hospitals, to take adequate measures to check its spread. With the haemorrhagic fever alreadyclaiming three lives in Gujarat, the BMC doesn’t want to take any chances.

Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner, said, “There have been no reported cases of the fever in Maharashtra. Hence, we don’t need to panic over this. But, we have sent a precautionary advisory to all civic hospitals and doctors, instructing them on things to look out for in patients.” Mhaiskar also said Congo fever only spreads through direct contact with the infected person.

Congo fever, found commonly in East & West African regions, is a viral haemorrhagic fever transmitted by ticks. The earlier symptoms of the disease are rashes, fever, dry cough, joint pain and later symptoms could be bleeding from the skin, mouth and nose. The virus can also be transmitted from animals to humans and has an incubation period of one to three days and a maximum of nine days.
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Meanwhile, the state government is gearing up to ensure that the Congo virus does not enter the state. Health minister Suresh Shetty said an action plan for the prevention was being finalised. “We plan to focus on the Gujarat border from where the virus can be carried into our state.”
Principal secretary (public health) Bhushan Gagarani said on Friday, “For now, the virus is confined to Gujarat. There is no need to put Maharashtra on alert because no such case has been detected here so far.”

Congo fever may not reach state

Mumbai: The Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), known as Congo fever, that claimed three lives in Gujarat and created panic is not likely to affect Maharashtra, said doctors on Thursday.

“It is not an air borne disease and whenever it has occurred in the past, it was restricted to a limited area. It cannot spread like swine flu,” said Dr Pradip Awate, state surveillance officer, Maharashtra health department.
Congo fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever transmitted by ticks.
The virus can also be transmitted from animals to humans and has an incubation period of three to nine days.

“Hopefully it will not spread but there have been cases reported of transmission through body fluids from one person to another,” said Dr Om Srivastav, unit head, Kasturba Hospital.
The infection can spread from the close contact with the infected person, said doctors.
“It is very important for healthcare workers coming in contact with the patients to observe bio safety precautions while treating patients,” said Dr Abhay Chowdhary, director, Haffekine Institute.

“This is one of the deadliest viruses known to mankind. When it is only limited to rash, it is manageable, but once it becomes a systemic illness involving multiple organs such as brain, kidney, spine and lungs, it becomes fatal,” said Srivastav.
The other similar tick borne viral hemorrhagic fever called Kyasanur Forest Disease was first reported from Kyasanur Forest of Karnataka in India in March 1957.
The disease manifested as an outbreak among monkeys killing several of them.

Mumabi Congo fever victim’s samples sent to National Institute of Virology
Published: Saturday, Jan 22, 2011, 22:32 IST Updated: Saturday, Jan 22, 2011,
22:34 IST By Somita Pal & Nozia Sayyed Place: Mumbai
Agency: DNA

With no significant development in Sampatraj Jain’s condition, the National Institute of Virology (NIV) is going to test the samples sent by Kasturba Hospital for 7-8 viruses causing viral haemorrhagic fever.

The 48-year-old Bhiwandi resident was shifted from Jaslok Hospital to Kasturba Hospital on Friday morning after doctors found that the clinical symptoms indicated viral haemorrhagic fever.

Dr Om Shrivastav, infectious diseases consultant, Jaslok Hospital, said, “There is no doubt that he has viral haemorrhagic fever. The virus can be the Congo virus, as in the cases detected in Ahmedabad. But chances of it being hanta virus, which spreads through rodents, are more as it affects the kidney and liver.”

According to the Jaslok Hospital doctors, Jain had high fever and was disoriented. His MRI scan revealed bleeding in the brain. His kidney and liver were deranged. “Jain had not come in direct contact with livestock. So Congo fever is unlikely,” said Dr Pratit Samdhani, physician, Jaslok Hospital.

Doctors say that all viral haemorrhagic fevers are highly infectious and fatal. Jain’s family members, along with 47 employees of Jaslok Hospital and Dr Samdhani who treated him, are on medication.

The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune that is flooded with serum samples from across the states after the outbreak of the Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Gujarat, has said there is no need to panic.

Dr AC Mishra, NIV director, told DNA that all the samples except those of Gujarat have tested negative so far. “There is lot of panic in the air due to this outbreak but there is no cause of concern. Samples are coming from all other states as well which we are testing. People are suggested to maintain hygiene in order to avoid this infection,” he said.

The state government’s health and animal husbandry department, along with the civic body, on Friday issued an advisory for veterinary doctors and people handling cattle. Bhushan Gagrani, public health secretary said, “We have asked the corporation to take samples of animals and person infected and send it immediately to NIV.”

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_mumabi-congo-fever-victims-samples-sent-to-national-institute-of-virology_1497955

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