Munger (Bihar): Fresh tests of blood
samples confirmed that 666 patients were afflicted by
cerebral malaria which claimed at least 25 lives in the past
fortnight in Bihar's Munger district, a senior health official
said today.
"The tests performed through fresh kits have confirmed
666 out of 1841 patients suffering from high fever or other
related symptoms are afflicted by cerebral malaria", Malaria
Officer Dr B Sahu said.
The fresh tests were ordered after the authorities
detected that earlier kits, applied for testing serum samples
were 'expired ones', he said.
A four-member central team led by Joint Director in
the Union health and Family Welfare Ministry Dr S N Sharma
team was already camping in the affected villages to help
assist in efforts to identify the cause of spread of the
disease in 70 villages of Kharagpur sub-division and Dhrahara
block in Munger.
Five unconfirmed deaths from cerebral malaria were
reported in past three days from the area.
Official sources said the deadly brain fever claimed
at least 25 lives since the outbreak in the first week of July
in Munger.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, August 10, 2009, 23:18