Thaindian News

Ahmedabad, Feb 15 (IANS) With four more deaths Sunday, the toll following hepatitis-B virus infection in Modasa sub-district in Gujarat has gone up to 16, officials said. Police complaints have been lodged against seven medical practitioners for irregularities which might have led to the spread of the virus.

“The four deaths were reported from Modasa taluka,” said district health official H.F. Patel.

First information reports (FIRs) have been registered against seven registered medical practitioners (RMPs) of Modasa, Talod and Dhansura talukas of Sabarkantha district under different clauses of Medical Act.

“We investigated the premises of 10 RMPs of which seven have been found guilty of irregularities,” H.F. Patel said.

Samples of syringes and other equipments from different medical practitioners have been taken to ensure that proper medical norms were being observed.

There is visible panic in neighbouring sub-districts of Modasa town of Sabarkantha district fearing the spread of the virus after cases of infection began a week ago.

“Some people in Modasa town have already left their homes and gone to Himmatnagar and other nearby places to live with their relatives and friends,” said a local.

Modasa and Dhansura talukas have 34 patients admitted to various hospitals.

Meanwhile, additional director of the State Epidemic Department Pradip Kumar and regional director of health K.B. Patel examined several affected people.

“We had taken as many as 93 blood samples and sent it to Ahmedabad and Vadodara for investigation,” said H.F. Patel.

According to Patel, the state government had sought the help of the union health department Saturday.

A team from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases and the Director General of Health Services is expected to arrive anytime now, he added.

“Our awareness campaign is continuing through distribution of pamphlets and through the media and we have asked the people not to panic as the situation is under control,” H.F. Patel added.