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NIV sounds alert on new virus
Umesh Isalkar, TNN, Jan 20, 2011, 07.00am IST


Tags:newly-identified virus|National Institute of Virology
PUNE: The National Institute of Virology (NIV) has alerted medical establishments in the state to keep an eye on any case of dengue showing unusually serious clinical manifestation to rule out the presence of the newly-identified virus, initial infection signs of which bear resemblance to dengue haemorrhagic fever. However, unlike dengue, the Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) virus is highly infectious and carries a mortality rate of up to 90 per cent, which is very high. The virus, isolated and identified by the NIV on Monday, has claimed three lives in Gujarat in the last 15 days.

"This for the first time that the virus has been identified in India. Considering the highly infectious nature of the virus, it is extremely important to be vigilant. Precaution is the key to keep the virus at bay," A C Mishra, director of NIV told TOI on Wednesday.

The alert assumes significance as dengue, the mosquito-borne infection, has badly hit the state in the last six months and medical establishments have been seeing a steady flow of patients suffering from dengue fever.

"We are ready to accept serum samples of suspicious patients from hospitals in Mahrashtra and other states and conduct tests," Mishra said.

The CCHF is transmitted by ticks. It can be responsible for severe outbreaks in humans but it is not pathogenic for ruminants, their amplifying host, Mishra said.

"The fever spreads to humans either by tick-bites, or through contact with viremic animal tissues during or immediately after slaughter. CCHF outbreaks constitute a threat to public health services because of its epidemic potential and its high case fatality ratio," Mishra said, and added that, "It`s a high-risk disease, but there`s no need for panic yet."

Meanwhile, hospitals in Ahmadabad have sounded high alert and instructed the emergency and ICU staff to mandatorily use the barrier method in dealing with patients with viral infections. Gujarat health authorities have also alerted all hospitals in Ahmedabad district to report any symptoms of CCHF, which include severe vomiting, stomach ache, joint pain and haemorrhagic fever. These symptoms are common for dengue and chikungunya also.

As many as 38 teams of doctors, including animal experts, have been pressed into action where they are combing each and every household falling in a five km radius of Kolat, the village from where the first case of CCHF originated. Amina Momin, the first casualty (Jan 3) of the virus belongs to this village and currently both her husband and brother are battling for life after having contracted the virus.

"The NIV has been receiving a sizable flow of samples from Gujarat. "The testing process is on. We will receive around 45 samples tonight and an equal number will arrive on Thursday," said Mishra.

CCHF is endemic in all of Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and in Asia south of the 50° parallel north, the geographic limit of the genus Hyalomma, the principal tick vector.