Announcement

**Sharpe** · August 24, 2008, 11:02 PM

Re: India: Mystery virus kills 160

I have put together a set of news reports over the past couple weeks regarding the situation in Kanpur. This will provide us with much more information to determine what might be going on. Keep in mind that much of the information contradicts each other--especially regarding the diagnoses that are listed--it's usually listed as either malaria or "viral fever", the number of patients affected, but nevertheless, it should give some background into this outbreak.

AUGUST 10:<o:p></o:p>
Two kids dead, 100 ill as mystery fever grips Uttar Pradesh village

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/two-kids-dead-100-ill-as-mystery-fever-grips-uttar-pradesh-village_10082234.html

Lucknow, Aug 10 (IANS) Two children have died and nearly 100 have fallen ill as an as-yet-unidentified decease has gripped a village in Kanpur rural district of Uttar Pradesh, officials said Sunday. The ?mysterious? disease came to light when district magistrate Rama Shanker Sahu Saturday visited a village in the Gajner block of the rural suburbs of the district, about 100 km from here.
?Two children died of some disease and nearly 100 people are ill. Besides suspending the lekhpal, two other health workers have been suspended,? Sahu told reporters.
A lekhpal keeps revenue records of a village and is the administration?s representative.
Lekhpal Arvind was suspended as he did not inform authorities about the deaths and the disease, he added.
Besides water-logging, a majority of the hand pumps in the village were found dysfunctional.
A medical team accompanying the officials also suspected water-logging to be the reason behind the disease.
?It may be a viral fever, but chances of Japanese encephalitis cannot be ruled out,? a member of a team led by the chief medical officer of the district said, decling to be named.
Administrative and medical teams were camping in the village while a team of experts was also rushed there.
<o:p> </o:p>
AUGUST 11:<o:p></o:p>

http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14738224

Mystery fever claims lives of two more kids
Monday, 11 August, 2008, 17:12
<table class="MsoNormalTable" style="width: 100%;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" style="width: 100%;" align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0in;"> Kanpur: Two more children have died of an unidentified disease marked by high fever in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur rural district, taking the toll to four in the past three days, officials said on Monday.
Two children died on Saturday in Muktapur village of Gajner block and two more have succumbed to the "mysterious" disease on Sunday in Mangolpur village of the same block, a district official said. Kanpur dehat (rural) district is about 100 km from here. <> The disease that has affected nearly 100 kids in Muktapur came to light only when district magistrate Rama Shanker Sahu visited the village on Saturday.
The district's chief medical officer claims it is a water-borne disease.
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <o:p> </o:p>
AUGUST 11:<o:p></o:p>
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Six-more-die-in-jaundice-350-down-with-viral-fever/347744/<o:p></o:p>
Six more die in jaundice, 350 down with viral fever<o:p></o:p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" style="width: 99pt;" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="132"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0in; width: 43.5pt;" valign="top" width="58">
</td> <td style="padding: 0in; width: 47.25pt;" width="63">
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> Kautilya Singh<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Posted online: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 02:56:18

<o:p></o:p>
Kanpur, August 11 Jaundice has claimed six lives in the last 48 hours in Kanpur Dehat. Over 350 cases of viral fever have been reported from villages of Pulandar, Thanwara, Muktapur, Mangolpur and Malasa. <o:p></o:p>
The deceased are Mangolpur resident Tilak Singh (35) and his son Vikas (8), Aarti (35), resident of Pulandar, Rekha (2), resident of Malasa, and two children ? Ankit and Manoj ? residents of Thanwara. <o:p></o:p>
Tilak was admitted at the Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital of Kanpur, while his son was being treated at the National Nursing Home. Chief Medical Officer of Kanpur Dehat, Dr Satya Singh told The Indian Express, ?No death due to viral fever has been reported in the district.? Tilak and Vikas were suffering from a liver disease and were admitted in the hospital for over a month, he added. <o:p></o:p>
?We have inspected each village, where cases of viral fever were reported, but no further case of jaundice has been reported,? he said. If jaundice was not treated on time, it might lead to liver failure and death of the patient, added the CMO. <o:p></o:p>
He said medical teams have been deployed in the affected villages and each patient is being given special attention. ?But if the villagers fail to maintain cleanliness, the disease is likely to crop up again,? Singh said. <o:p></o:p>
District Magistrate Rama Shankar also denied any death due to viral fever. He, however, said, ?The fever is caused by taking contaminated water and water of both hand pumps and wells is contaminated in villages.? He also said chlorination was being carried out in the affected villages to purify the water. ?The situation is not alarming, therefore no medical support has been requested from adjoining districts,? he added. <o:p></o:p>
When asked about the possible role of quacks in worsening the situation, he said once the medical teams complete their operations in the affected villages, a drive would be carried out against the quacks. ?We are also trying hard to improve the facilities at primary health centres, so the villagers do not fall into the trap of quacks,? said the DM. <o:p></o:p>

AUGUST 12:<o:p></o:p>
http://www.saharasamay.com/samayhtml...?newsid=103864<o:p></o:p>
Six die, thousands fall ill due to water-borne diseases
Posted at Tuesday, 12 August 2008 19:08 IST<o:p></o:p>
Kanpur, Aug 12: At least six people, including three children, have died in the past three days while scores are undergoing for various water-borne diseases in the rain-lashed villages of the region, officials said.

About two thousand people have been undergoing treatment for various communicable diseases as water logging due to heavy rains in more than half a dozen villages in the region have resulted in the spread of diseases like jaundice and viral fever, Additional District Magistrate, Kanpur Rural, A N Upadhyay told PTI.

However, villagers claim that about 12 people have died and more than two thousand people are undergoing treatment at various government hospitals.

The district administration, along with the health department, has been put on high alert and regular medical camps are being held in the affected villages, ADM Upadhyay said.

He said the administration has begun a sanitation drive in the villages to contain the spread of water-borne diseases.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
AUGUST 17:<o:p></o:p>
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Five-more-die-in-Kanpur-Dehat-authorities-now-say-its-malaria/350072/<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Five more die in Kanpur Dehat, authorities now say it?s malaria<o:p></o:p>

Kanpur, August 17 Five more deaths in Kanpur Dehat during the last 48 hours have forced the district medical authorities to acknowledge that it was malaria and not jaundice, which was responsible for the deaths. <o:p></o:p>
In the last two days, Payal (6) and Gore (7) from Serua village, Gopika (5) from Tadwara village, Satendra (35) from Hasemau village and Sunil (10) from Rohini Sikandara have died. <o:p></o:p>
Kalika, father of Payal, said: ?She fell ill and her condition continued to deteriorate with each passing day. Before we could understand anything, she expired.? <o:p></o:p>
According to official records, nine people have died in Kanpur dehat in the recent past. Moreover, 567 patients from 20 villages of Akbarpur and Bhognipur tehsils are at present under treatment. <o:p></o:p>
Chief Medical Officer of Kanpur Dehat, Satya Singh, said: ?Among the nine deaths in the district, tests have proved that only one had died due to malaria. But, no doubt malaria is on the rise in the district.? He added that more cases of malaria have been detected in several villages of Akbarpur and Bhognipur. ?Malaria and anaemia are the two major diseases being faced here,? he said. Bahujan Samaj Party <o:p></o:p>
legislator from Bhognipur, Raghunath Prasad Shankwar, said several villages in his Assembly constituency are under the grip of malaria and viral fever. ?During monsoon, this is not unusual in this part of the district. Dirt, littered garbage and water pollution is responsible for more people being affected.? <o:p></o:p>
Shankwar claimed that he has made several visits to the affected villages including Pulandar, Thadwara, Vijaipur and Samau. <o:p></o:p>
?Several medical teams deployed here are ensuring that patients receive proper treatment,? he added. <o:p></o:p>
AUGUST 17:<o:p></o:p>
http://www.saharasamay.com/samayhtml...?newsid=104032<o:p></o:p>
Teenage boy dies under mysterious circumstances
Posted at Sunday, 17 August 2008 11:08 IST<o:p></o:p>
Kanpur, Aug 17: A teenage inmate of a juvenile jail here held for rape charges died under mysterious circumstances.

Vijay (17) was arrested in a rape case from Rura area, following which he was sent to the district jail on July 14. On August 14, he was shifted to the children's jail.

Vijay's was taken to the district hospital on the same day after he complained of illness, SSP PAK Singh said.

His condition deteriorated and he died yesterday night, Singh said.

The body has been sent for post mortem and a magisterial enquiry has been ordered into the incident, District Magistrate Anil Sagar said.<o:p></o:p>
AUGUST 18:<o:p></o:p>
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-n...-Dehat/350564/<o:p></o:p>
3 more die of viral fever in Kanpur Dehat<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
Kanpur Dehat, August 18 After losing his 7-year-old son Ankit to Kanpur Dehat?s mystery fever, Jagdish Singh is hoping for a miracle for his daughter Pooja. <o:p></o:p>
A resident of village Tadhwara, Jagdish is disappointed with the district medical authorities. ?After our repeated pleas, she was admitted to the district hospital on August 13,? said Singh. ?On the Independence Day, the doctors said that she has recovered. But after returning from the hospital, she had a relapse,? added Singh. <o:p></o:p>
The district and medical authorities, however, woke up from their slumber only after the fever spread across 150 villages of four blocks ? Amraudha, Malasa, Dherapur and Sarvankheda ? home to 3 lakh people. <o:p></o:p>
Three more viral fever deaths were reported from the district on Monday. A resident of Macha village, Renu (16), Kelehi resident Rani (25) and Ayodhya Nagar resident Hasima Begum (40) succumbed to the disease. The medical authorities, however, are yet to confirm these deaths. <o:p></o:p>
Over the last 20 days, over 40 people have died, 9,377 patients have been provided with medical treatment. <o:p></o:p>
?As per official records, of the 28 people who have died, 12 were affected with viral fever and the rest by other diseases including malaria, jaundice and liver failure,? said Rama Shankar Sahu, the District Magistrate, Kanpur Dehat. Forty teams of doctors have been deployed in the four blocks. ?We have apprised the Director General and Principal Secretary, Health, about the situation and have sought support from other districts,? he said. <o:p></o:p>
Chief Medical Officer, Kanpur Dehat Satya Singh, said reports indicate that the people who died were suffering from viral fever, malaria or jaundice. <o:p></o:p>
Even villages like Seruva ka Purva under the Sarvankheda Block ? which has been selected by the state government as Ambedkar village ? have been neglected by the medical and district authorities of Kanpur Dehat. Seruva ka Purva has already witnessed over a 100 cases and the death of two children. ?Only once did the medical team visit the village, gave medicines to few children and took their blood samples,? said the father of one of the patients. <o:p></o:p>
Neither have the villagers been apprised of the blood test report, nor have medical teams returned to provide treatment, he added. ?There are several villages which are yet to receive the required medical aid,? said Ram Kishore Diwakar, Zila Panchayat member of Kathethi. <o:p></o:p>
Raghunath Prasad Shankwar, BSP legislator from Bhognipur, said: ?Due to unhygienic conditions in these villages, each monsoon there is an increase in death rate of minors and seniors. Given the constraints, medical authorities are making their best efforts.? <o:p></o:p>
AUGUST 19:<o:p></o:p>
http://www.saharasamay.com/samayhtml...?newsid=104152<o:p></o:p>
Malaria toll reaches sixteen, 36 medical staff suspended
Posted at Tuesday, 19 August 2008 16:08 IST<o:p></o:p>
Kanpur, Aug 19: As the toll increased to 16 due to Malaria out-break in around 150 villages of Kanpur, the health department today suspended thirty six staff and initiated departmental inquiry against 24 others, including four doctors for their 'carelessness'.

The state government has also called an emergency meeting of chief medical officers from 14 districts today to discuss strategies to fight the disease.

Twenty five Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and eleven clerks of revenue department have been suspended for not giving timely intimation to the district administration about the out-break of Malaria, Additional District Magistrate of Kanpur A N Upadhyay told reporters.

Departmental inquiry has been started against Dr Anil Varma, Dr Deepak Awasthi, Dr R N Singh and Dr Vinod Katiar apart from 20 ANMs, Upadhyay said adding, letters have also been issued to stop the services of 38 contract workers.

Meanwhile, the administration has confirmed four more death in the last 24 hours due to Malaria raising the toll upto 16.

The toll may increase further as hundreds of infected people are admitted in different hospitals, Upadhyay said.

Total 378 infected persons have been reported so far after the tests conducted on blood samples of 12,618 patients from different villages.

However, the health department has distributed 14 thousand Chloro-quinone, 50 thousand Chlorine tablets and immunised 155 wells in the area as part of preventive measures, the ADM said.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
AUGUST 19:<o:p></o:p>
http://mathaba.net/news/?x=603042<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
At least 12 people have lost their lives in the past one-week following an out-break of malaria, prompted by heavy rains, in the rural areas of the Kanpur district.

"Twelve people have died of malaria over the last seven days and hundreds are reported sick of the disease, from the nearby villages," an authority said.

"Some 1,800 people from 131 villages of the district have been affected by malaria and the disease is spreading to neighboring areas also," Indian official media reported quoting Kanpur ADM (Additional District Magistrate) A N Upadhaya.

"The main reason for spreading of malaria is water-logging after heavy rains due to which mosquitoes are breeding in abundance," he added.

He said out of the total 28 deaths reported from the malaria-affected villages, 12 have been confirmed of malaria, Upadhaya said adding he feared an epidemic if the situation was not brought under control immediately.

"Health Department has taken blood samples of around 4,500 people to examine it," Upadhaya said terming the move as a precautionary measure to avoid the possibility of an epidemic.

However, the Health Department has formed 10 teams of medical staffs to distribute chlorine and chloro-quinone as a preventive measure in all the affected villages, he said.

Malaria is a disease which can be transmitted to people of all ages. It is caused by parasites of the species Plasmodium that are spread from person to person through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

Malaria is both preventable and curable.

A child dies of malaria every 30 seconds.

More than one million people die of malaria every year, mostly infants, young children and pregnant women and most of them in Africa.

Approximately, 40 percent of the world's population, mostly those living in the world's poorest countries, are at risk of malaria. Every year, more than 500 million people become severely ill with malaria.

Most cases and deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa.

However, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Europe are also affected. --IRNA<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
AUGUST 20:<o:p></o:p>
http://www.saharasamay.com/samayhtml...?newsid=104184<o:p></o:p>
Four docs suspended after malaria outbreak
Posted at Wednesday, 20 August 2008 08:08 IST<o:p></o:p>
Kanpur, Aug 20: Taking stern action against health officials here for allegedly failing to prevent malaria outbreak, the district administration has suspended four doctors and 36 health department workers and ordered an inquiry against them.

Meanwhile, four people have succumbed to malaria in the last 24 hours taking the overall death toll to 16 with the disease spreading its tentacles in more than 150 villages in the region.

Speaking to newsmen, the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Kanpur Dehat AN Upadhyay said that services of about 38 constant worker have also been put on hold.

Upadhyay further added, "The death toll can rise." According to sources the death toll has crossed the 50 mark.

"The health department in the last 14 days has tested 12,618 people in 451 villages and has collected 3172 blood samples. And according to the reports, malaria has been confirmed in 378 samples," said the ADM.

The district administration has distributed 14,000 chloroquin and 50,000 chlorine tablets and has also disinfected 155 wells.<o:p></o:p>
AUGUST 23:<o:p></o:p>

Page Not Found - Monsters and Critics

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/health/news/article_1426401.php/Over_62_killed_as_malaria_epidemics_hit_Indian_states

Over 62 killed as malaria epidemics hit Indian states<o:p></o:p>
Health News<o:p></o:p>
Aug 23, 2008, 8:34 GMT <o:p></o:p>
New Delhi - More than 62 people died and thousands were affected as malaria epidemics broke out after heavy monsoon rains in India's central and northern regions, media reports said Saturday.
Health officials told the NDTV television that more than 50 people died of malaria over the past three weeks in the Shivpuri district of central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
The victims included 16 children, the report said.
'There is not a single home in the region where someone is not suffering from malaria,' a villager in Shivpuri told the news channel.
State-run hospitals in Shivpuri city, 250 kilometres north of state capital Bhopal, were stretched to the limit.
The infections were tracked to the mosquito-borne parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
Of the four existing malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum is by far the most dangerous, particularly to the undernourished, weak or very young.
'Its close to an epidemic and the highest cases are of the malaria falciparum,' N Srivastava, a senior district official said.
The PTI news agency reported that 12 people died and thousands were affected in a malaria outbreak in the northern Uttar Pradesh state.
State administration official A N Upadhyaya said 1,800 people from 131 villages in the Kanpur district were suffering from the disease which was spreading to other areas.
'The main reason for spreading of malaria is water-logging after heavy rains, due to which mosquitoes are breeding in abundance,' Upadhyaya said.
Malaria outbreaks are common in various parts of India during the monsoon season between June and September, in particular in Eastern Orissa, West Bengal and Assam.
About 1 million people all over the world die each year of the disease. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
AUGUST 24:<o:p></o:p>

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/sports/malaria-outbreaks-in-kanpur_10088059.html

Malaria outbreaks in Kanpur
August 24th, 2008 - 6:45 pm ICT by ANI
Kanpur , August 24 (ANI): Malaria outbreaks in Kanpur with reports of at least 500 people falling prey to high fever and many succumbing to the vector spread disease.
Over the past few days, several cases of malaria have been reported from Kanpur Dehat of the region.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the area, Satya Singh, said that blood samples of about 600 patients have been taken and the area is being sprayed with chemicals to prevent the spread of the disease.
A total of 586 blood samples have been taken. And those patients, who have tested positive for malaria, are being attended to and given all necessary treatment. We are also spraying in the areas, fogging and spraying of DDT is also taking place in those areas, said Singh.
Meanwhile, residents said that almost every house in the village had one or two patients suffering from fever possibly malaria.
Many children in our village were running high temperature. But when two children died, our village head informed the hospital authorities, which then sent a team here. The team referred us to this hospital where those suffering (from malaria) are being treated, said Vinod Kumar, a resident.
According to some reports, more than 62 people have succumbed to the disease while thousands are affected by malaria that broke out following heavy monsoon rains in central and northern parts of India .
Malaria outbreaks are common during the monsoon season in India particularly in northern, eastern and northeastern states. (ANI)
<o:p> </o:p>

**Shiloh** · August 26, 2008, 08:50 PM

Re: India: Mystery virus kills 160

Yesterday, I posted an article that attributed the deaths to malaria:

India: Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya cases - FluTrackers News and Information

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77826&highlight=kanpur

But...according to the article below, it remains a mystery. Thanks for posting the history...

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/L...ow/3409746.cms

Mystery fever claims more lives in Kanpur
27 Aug 2008, 0446 hrs IST,TNN

KANPUR: The reports of 35 more patients falling to the mystery fever in Kanpur Dehat villages on Tuesday put the administration on tenterhooks.

While senior officials miserably failed to confirm the toll as teams of state health department and experts of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, who were rushed to Kanpur by the Centre to collect samples, too failed to shed light on the disease.

The deadly virus has, so far, claimed 210 lives across 350 villages of Akbarpur, Rasoolabad, Bhognipur and Sikandara tehsils of Kanpur Dehat, leaving villagers panicky. While they have helplessly watched their near ones dying, health experts have no idea about how to check spread of the killer virus.

After making its presence felt in about 350 villages of Kanpur Dehat within a couple of weeks, the virus is now spreading its tentacles into bordering districts of Mainpuri, Etawah, Farrukhabad and Kannauj.

"We are actually at a loss as how to tackle it,"said a paediatrician at the District Hospital. The hospital is already struggling to cope with the heavy influx of patients suffering from fever and viral infection.

On Monday evening, the hospital authorities referred Swapnil Kumar (14) from Malasa village and Munni (10) from Dhar, to LLR.

However, due to financial constraints their parents expressed helplessness to shift them. "I don't have enough money to get my children treated at the LLR Hospital. We are now at the mercy of the Almighty,"said a tearful Manohar.

Dhar and Malasa are the two worst affected village of the district.

**Shiloh** · August 26, 2008, 09:02 PM

Re: India: Mystery virus kills 160

Source: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-n...-cases/353856/

Post Kanpur, Muzaffarnagar under scanner for fever cases
Maulshree-Seth
Posted online: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 02:19:06

Lucknow, August 26 After Kanpur, a sudden increase in the number of fever cases in Muzaffarnagar and its adjoining districts has become a cause of concern for the state Health department.

Several health centres in the district are handling around 300 cases of fever every day for the last one week. According to sources, in the recent past, around 20 people have died after suffering from fever in the district.

Health authorities, however, had claimed that in each of these cases, fever was coupled with pneumonia, malnutrition or anaemia ? the main reasons behind the deaths.

The fact, however, remains that a sudden rise in the number of fever cases point towards a lack of proper preventive measures taken in the districts for vector control, with the heavy rains followed by waterlogging in the rural areas compounding the problem.

Dr P K Jain, Chief Medical Officer of Muzaffarnagar, said: ?In order to confirm the reason behind these cases, we are going to conduct some tests,? he said.

The other affected districts which have been reporting a sudden rise in cases of viral fever and malaria are Chandauli, Fatehpur, Mainpuri and Saharanpur.

Dr I S Srivastava, Director General of Medical and Health, Uttrar Pradesh, said: ?The deaths so far have not taken place due to some mysterious fever. These are mainly cases of viral fever and malaria. Luckily, majority of the cases are of non-fatal.?

He added: ?We have put all districts on alert. They have also been asked to ensure immediate fogging in at least 50 houses around the area which reports a single case.?

So far, around 30,000 malaria cases have been reported in the state. The number of deadly plasmodium falciparum malaria cases is around 125. Recently, six PF malaria cases were reported from Kanpur district. PF malaria is transmitted by anopheles mosquitoes and has the highest mortality rate of all types of malaria.

**Commonground** · August 27, 2008, 06:01 AM

Re: India: Mystery virus kills 160

Scientific panel formed to check fever that killed over 120
August 27th, 2008 - 5:18 pm ICT by IANS

Lucknow, Aug 27 (IANS) A panel of scientists, including experts from National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, has been formed to contain a mysterious fever that has claimed over 120 lives in Uttar Pradesh?s Kanpur division in the last three weeks, an official said Wednesday.?The scientific panel will be headed by M.M. Gore of NIV. At present, Gore is associated with NIV?s field station in Gorakhpur district (of Uttar Pradesh),? an NIV scientist told IANS on phone from Pune.

Gore?s field of specialisation is anti-viral immunology, she said.

Besides NIV experts, scientists and doctors from Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science, Lucknow, B.R.D. Medical College Gorakhpur and other hospitals are also the members of the panel, sources said.

I.S. Srivastava, director general (medical and health), confirmed that the scientific panel has been constituted to counter the mysterious fever.

The unofficial count of the deaths due to the mysterious disease in six districts of Kanpur division is 160.

The worst hit by the mystery disease is Akbarpur district, where 100 people have died, said a district administration official.

Several villages of the district including Akorhi, Satti, Naseerpur and Chataina are badly affected, he added.

Even as experts fear the disease can spread to adjoining districts of Kanpur division, health officials refused to comment.

The mysterious disease, which is afflicting about 8-10 people daily, is marked by high fever, an official said. Symptoms of the mystery disease are similar to that of malaria and jaundice, he added.

A team of officials from the union health ministry arrived in Kanpur rural district and collected patients? blood samples.

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/scientific-panel-formed-to-check-fever-that-killed-over-120_10089258.html

**HenryN** · August 27, 2008, 06:18 AM

Re: India: Mystery virus kills 160

UNDIAGNOSED FATAL ILLNESS - INDIA (03): (UTTAR PRADESH), REQUEST FOR
INFORMATION
************************************************** ****************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Mon 25 Aug 2008
Source: Hindustan Times [edited]
<http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print.aspx?Id=9c992524-8c22-4c60-8dea-c595ff5d1cd7>

*****[This is not a continuation of the outbreak in March 2008,
reported in ProMED ref. 20080331.1194 below. This is another episode
whicb only began this month, August 2008 -- see ProMED
ref.20080811.2478 below. - Mod.JW]*****

Rural Kanpur is fighting its most frightening scourge -- a mystery
disease that has left a long line of bodies in its trail and doesn't
seem anywhere near finished.

What started from one village 2 weeks ago [week of 9 Aug 2008] has
now spread to 350 and has so far claimed 160 lives. Thousands more
are bed-ridden. On an average, 15 to 20 people have been dying every
day; Saturday [23 Aug 2008) saw the highest toll in a day: 24.

The district's health department is somewhat confused about the
nature of the disease that has struck. At the beginning, the
diagnosis was viral fever. Then doctors concluded that it was
falciparum malaria. But after 2 weeks, they have ruled out both, but
still don't have an exact answer.

"We really don't know what exactly it is; we are depending on the
finding of a team of specialists from New Delhi," said Dr RC Agarwal,
the district's new chief medical officer.

Specialists from the Infectious Disease and Surveillance Programme,
New Delhi, have collected the blood samples of a few patients. The
team will make its findings known in a few days.

But the fear of the unknown has resulted in a mass exodus of
villagers. Pulandar and Dhar villages under Malasa block are the
worst affected. About 1000 people in these 2 villages alone are
battling the disease. Dhar has taken the maximum number of
casualties. The village has lost about 30 people but only one doctor
has visited it so far. That was 15 days ago.

Dhar still remains a perfect picture of neglect and apathy. Heaps of
garbage continue to be littered all over. Houses are surrounded by
stinking filth and roads are waterlogged -- perfect breeding grounds
for diseases like malaria. The village's secondary school has been
shut down for an indefinite period. Children would wade through
knee-deep water to reach the school.

[Byline: Pawan Dixit]

--
Communicated by:
Ryan McGinnis
<digicana@gmail.com>

[This outbreak of undiagnosed disease has spread dramatically since
the initial report dated 11 Aug 2008 (see: Undiagnosed fatal illness
- India (02): (UP) RFI 20080811.2478). The disease has now spread to
affect some 350 villages in the Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh,
affecting thousands of people with the death toll now at 160. There
appears to have been no progress in identification of the cause of the
outbreak, other than that malaria and unspecified viral fevers have
been excluded. There is no description of the signs and symptoms of
the disease, but the suspicion of water-borne infection remains in
view of the reported neglected state of the villages and persisting
flooding and lack of adequate drainage.

The results of the analysis of diagnostic materials collected from
villagers are awaited with some impatience. The lack of medical
support for the villagers is alarming.

The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh can be located using the
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of India at
<http://healthmap.org/promed?v=22.9,79.6,5>,
and the location of Kanpur district can be found at
<http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/4/4b/Physiographic_map.jpg>.
- Mod.CP]

[see also:
Undiagnosed fatal illness - India (02): (UP) RFI 20080811.2478
Undiagnosed fatal illness - India (Uttar Pradesh): RFI 20080331.1194
2007
----
Japanese encephalitis - India (02) (Uttar Pradesh) 20071026.3486
Undiagnosed viral disease - India (02): (Uttar Pradesh) 20071026.3485
Undiagnosed viral disease - India: (Uttar Pradesh)20071022.3440
Japanese encephalitis - India (Uttar Pradesh) 20070930.3233
2006
----
Japanese encephalitis - India (Uttar Pradesh) (03): vaccine safety
20061222.3583
2005
----
Undiagnosed deaths - India (Uttar Pradesh) (02) 20051115.3342
Undiagnosed deaths - India (Uttar Pradesh): RFI 20051113.332]
........................................cp/mj/jw

**mordan** · August 27, 2008, 07:03 AM

Re: India: Mystery virus kills 160

Mystery fever claims more lives in Kanpur | Lucknow News - Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lucknow/Mystery_fever_claims_more_lives_in_Kanpur/articleshow/3409746.cms

The deadly virus has, so far, claimed 210 lives across 350 villages of Akbarpur, Rasoolabad, Bhognipur and Sikandara tehsils of Kanpur Dehat.

KANPUR: The reports of 35 more patients falling to the mystery fever in Kanpur Dehat villages on Tuesday put the administration on tenterhooks.

While senior officials miserably failed to confirm the toll as teams of state health department and experts of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, who were rushed to Kanpur by the Centre to collect samples, too failed to shed light on the important disease.

The deadly virus has, so far, claimed 210 lives across 350 villages of Akbarpur, Rasoolabad, Bhognipur and Sikandara tehsils of Kanpur Dehat, leaving villagers panicky. While they have helplessly watched their near ones dying, important health experts have no idea about how to check spread of the killer virus.

After making its presence felt in about 350 villages of Kanpur Dehat within a couple of weeks, the virus is now spreading its tentacles into bordering districts of Mainpuri, Etawah, Farrukhabad and Kannauj.

"We are actually at a loss as how to tackle it,"said a paediatrician at the District Hospital. The hospital is already struggling to cope with the heavy influx of patients suffering from fever and viral infection.

On Monday evening, the hospital authorities referred Swapnil Kumar (14) from Malasa village and Munni (10) from Dhar, to LLR.

However, due to financial constraints their parents expressed helplessness to shift them. "I don't have enough money to get my children treated at the LLR Hospital. We are now at the mercy of the Almighty,"said a tearful Manohar.

Dhar and Malasa are the two worst affected village of the district.

**Treyfish** · August 27, 2008, 11:29 AM

Re: India: Mystery virus kills 160

Mysterious disease kills over 120 in north India

www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-27 20:16:00 Print

NEW DELHI, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- A mysterious fever has claimed over 120 lives in northern Indian state Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur division in the last three weeks, official sources said Wednesday.
A group of scientists, including experts from India's National Institute of Virology (NIV) have been formed to contain the disease, the Indo-Asian News Service reported.
Besides NIV experts, scientists and doctors from medical colleges and hospitals are also the members of the group.
The mysterious disease, which is infecting about 8-10 people daily, is marked by high fever. Symptoms of the mystery disease are similar to that of malaria and jaundice, sources said.
The unofficial count of the deaths due to the mysterious disease in six districts of Kanpur division is 160.
The worst hit by the disease is Akbarpur district, where 100 people have died, said a district administration official.
Experts fear that the disease can spread to adjoining districts.
A team of officials from the Indian Health Ministry has arrived in Kanpur and collected patients' blood samples, the report said.

感谢您的浏览！ - 新华网

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/27/content_9723921.htm

**Giuseppe** · August 27, 2008, 11:38 AM

Re: India: Mystery virus kills 160

Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh, India)

**Treyfish** · August 27, 2008, 01:52 PM

Re: India: Mystery virus kills 160

SARS outbreak in northern India killed more than 10 people a day
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=story_author align=middle width="75%">

2008-8-25 11:05

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=border id=divpic1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width=214 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=photo_explanation> India's northern industrial city in the outskirts of the city slope indeed, the recent outbreak of an unknown transmission of the virus, less than half of 160 people died, the official helpless, but residents living Zangluan suspected virus is main cause of derivatives. Photograph shows the residents of water source.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> (CNA Guo Chuanxin New Delhi on the 25th) - India's population of 160 million people in the north, since the floods since June infestation, the death toll has so far killed over 700 people; Banyue Qian, Northern Province and industrial technology centre Kan slope outskirts of the city, the outbreak of an unknown infectious virus, has so far caused at least 160 people were killed and thousands of people Wobingzaichuang, no channel people seeking treatment, the official also helpless.

Kan new slope Municipal Health Bureau chief medical officer A Jiawo told the media today, said: "We really do not know what the virus.".
Two weeks ago, when things happen, physicians believe that only a general fever virus disease, but later see rapid increase in the number of deaths, malaria was a vicious virus that is now A Jiawo apparently also denied.
According to local people that this is only the initial mystery virus in a village in the attack, but less than half a month's time, Kan has rapidly spread to the neighbouring city of Paju 350 villages, causing 160 people Death, the daily average at least 10 people died, last Saturday, killed 24 people a day, many people did Sunday with his wife from the small village of asylum, also announced that primary schools will be closed.

A health official said that although many villagers complained about the lack of doctors or even no cause of the doctors to observe, but died of disease in the past two weeks with about 30 people in the village, attention-grabbing As the village litter on the streets are piled up Sewage flow and four villagers Haobuzaiyi the scenes, seems to have pointed out the source of the mysterious virus.

http://translate.google.com/translat...N%26start%3D10

新唐人电视台http://www.ntdtv.com/xtr/gb/2008/08/25/a189688.html

NTDTV http://www.ntdtv.com/xtr/gb/2008/08/25/a189688

**Treyfish** · August 27, 2008, 01:56 PM

Re: India: Mystery virus kills 160

More than 100 people were killed in northern India, "abnormal"

-- New Delhi, August 27 (Xinhua Zhou Jun) India - Asia News Agency reported on the 27th, a recent epidemic of the disease is not well-known hit northern India in three weeks time killed at least 120 people Life. India, the epidemic spread to the northern region of six Bangkanpuer township.
At present, there are still daily 8-10 people were killed in this "abnormal." According to local sources said, the patient has symptoms of fever, symptoms similar to other parts of infectious diseases such as malaria. After the epidemic, India's Ministry of Health in collecting blood samples for analysis, but have not yet reached the test results.
By the Indian National Institute of Virology and Sang Jiayi Gandhi Institute of Medical Research and other organizations composed of experts and medical team ready to immediately investigate Kanpur region, experts fear the epidemic will continue to spread.

http://209.85.171.104/translate_c?hl...7Qi2jorJTnBJCw

**Treyfish** · August 27, 2008, 02:01 PM

Re: India: Mystery virus kills 160

SARS outbreak in northern India has killed at least 160 people mysterious

<TABLE style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 27px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=562></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

2008年08月27日09:11 來源：中國新聞網

At 9:11 on August 27, 2008 Source: China News Net

http://209.85.171.104/translate_c?hl...DVOnjae9d6jw1w

**Giuseppe** · August 27, 2008, 02:31 PM

Re: India: Mystery virus kills 160

Until actual causative agent(s) of these deaths will be isolated and characterized no final diagnosis can be attempted.

SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness was caused by novel discovered SARS-CoV (coronavirus). It started in Guandgong in the fall of 2002 and spread globally in 2003 when finally it was contained. Around 8000 people caught the disease and at least 800 died.

At this stage, India doens't ufficially report isolation of a SARS-CoV-like virus and thus every speculation about this incident correlation with the SARS-CoV should be excluded.

Further, no clear clinical description is available for the people involved in this outbreak and complete lack of epidemiological pattern also create a climate of uncertainty.

I hope that in the next few hours or days an official report about this incident will be available in order to fugate any speculation, that poses great damage to Uttar Pradesh people, economy, and for India in general.

On the other hand, I am sure that other Mods and members will maintain an open minded approach on this issue and continue to monitor the situation with great sense of responsibility, as done until now with general appreciation.

**Gert van der Hoek** · August 27, 2008, 02:41 PM

Re: India: Mystery virus kills 160

Virus spreads in Kanpur, babus fight losing battle

Wed, Aug 27

Spreading its lethal presence beyond Kanpur Dehat, the mystery virus has begun playing havoc in other districts of Kanpur division.

Kannauj has reported 51 deaths in two days while 10 people have died in Farrukhabad in as many days.

The deaths in Kanpur Dehat continue to mount with 11 more being reported on Monday. In a knee-jerk reaction to the epidemic, Navtej Singh, commissioner of Kanpur division that comprises six districts, summoned the chief medical officer of Kannauj.

"I have asked for a detailed report. Additional teams of doctors are being rushed to the district," Singh said.

Apart from Kanpur division, the mystery virus has been traced to Jhansi division. Two districts here - Mau and Hamirpur - reported a death each.

In Kanpur Dehat, the district administration and the health department seem to be waging a lost battle. The disease has left 160 dead in just two weeks.

More than 1,000 people suffering from the disease turned up at the out-patient department of the district hospital at Mati, the district headquarters of Kanpur Dehat on Monday. The OPD presents tragedy and chaos, with patients scrambling desperately to see the doctor and women wailing inconsolably at the loss of their children.

The vast expanse of Kanpur Dehat and villages in far-flung areas are making the task of controlling the scourge all the more difficult for the health department. Officially, a team of 46 doctors is camping in Kanpur Dehat to provide medical assistance.

But it is proving to be too little too late as more than 350 villages of Dehat are battling the disease.

Yahoo Search - Web Search

http://in.news.yahoo.com/32/20080827/1053/tnl-virus-spreads-in-kanpur-babus-fight_1.html

The search engine that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. Find the most relevant information, video, images, and answers from all across the Web.

**Treyfish** · August 27, 2008, 03:08 PM

Re: India: Mystery virus kills 160

Uncontrollable infectious disease, 61 people were killed in सूबे alert

Aug 27, 01:42 am

Aug 27, 01:42 am

कानपुर/लखनऊ।

Kanpur / Lucknow. Village - the village clean-up operation, despite being in the outbreak of infectious diseases has not ceased.
Tuesday, diseases and deaths of 61 people have been. These diseases in the grip of Kanpur, the countryside and around 400 villages have come here on Tuesday that killed 38 people and the number of dead rose to 211 have been.
On the other hand, diarrhoea and malaria during the past twenty-four hours Chitrakoot, Hardoi and Fatehpur in the lives of eight people taken obscene, while dozens of patients in their homes or hospitals life - death among swans are. The growing number of patients, the Health Department's claim to the poll opened. Meanwhile, in Gorakhpur 7, and 6 in Lucknow, Rampur, two people lost lives from infectious diseases are sitting.

मंगलवार को अकबरपुर जिला अस्पताल में इलाज के दौरान बुखार से पीड़ित सिकंदरा के धरमपुर निवासी जय प्रकाश , मंगटा निवासी रोशनी , बिगाही की सोनी (10) की मौत हो गयी।

Tuesday, District akbarpur treatment in the hospital suffering from fever during the Sikandra धरमपुर resident of Jai Prakash, a resident of मंगटा lights, the बिगाही Sony (10) have been the deaths.

अकबरपुर कस्बे में मुन्नी देवी (50), मैथा के प्रतापपुर उदैत में राम सिंह (35), इंदरुख में रामकिशन (45), रूरा के शिवाजी नगर में रामकुमार (25) की बुखार से मौत हो गयी।

Akbarpur town of Munni Devi (50), मैथा the प्रतापपुर उदैत of Ram Singh (35), इंदरुख in रामकिशन (45), Ramkumar रूरा in the Shivaji Nagar (25) of the fever have been killed.

झींझक अप्र के अनुसार मंगलपुर के चक्केपुरवा में बालक राम (50), लगरथा में सुखरानी (50), अंगदपुर में छोटेलाल (55), संदलपुर ब्लाक के ग्राम तेरा में विमल तिवारी (16), चमरौवा में सीतादेवी (7) व कसोलर में छुटकऊ (50), प्रेमवती (40), धर्मपुर गांव में सौरभ पाल (8), सोनू (2), मुंगीसापुर अंप्र के अनुसार औढेरी में नाजिम (7), मवईमुक्ता में रामेश्वर (60), भोगनीपुर अंप्र के अनुसार धौकलपुरवा में जगरूप सिंह (60), सैदलीपुर में शंकरबाबू (34), मकरंदापुर में रूक्मणी (60), विश्वनाथ (60), ख्वाजाफूल में महेश (40), पुखरायां में विनोद कुमार (37), तारनपुर में रामप्रसाद (75), कृपालपुर में नवजात गोपाल, रसूलाबाद अंप्र के अनुसार कारेरामपुर में रईस (7), अपौना में प्रमोद सिंह (32), कहिंजरी खुर्द में रानी देवी (45), बरईझाल में पंकज (21), दया में मुन्नू सिंह(45), डूडामहुआ में बाबूराम (60), बुझवा में नरेश (35), जैतपुर में चंद्रभान (40), तेरागांव में फूलवती (45), हरदेव (50), रानी देवी (13), साहनीपुर में अब्दुल (40), की बुखार की चपेट में आने से मौत हो गयी।

मंगलपुर according झींझक अप्र child in the चक्केपुरवा Ram (50), लगरथा in सुखरानी (50), अंगदपुर in छोटेलाल (55), संदलपुर block in the village will clear Tiwari (16), चमरौवा in सीतादेवी (7) and कसोलर in छुटकऊ (50), प्रेमवती (40), in the village धर्मपुर Saurabh Paul (8), Sonu (2), according to औढेरी in मुंगीसापुर अंप्र Nazim (7), in मवईमुक्ता Rameshwar (60), भोगनीपुर अंप्र according धौकलपुरवा in जगरूप Singh ( 60), सैदलीपुर in शंकरबाबू (34), मकरंदापुर in रूक्मणी (60), Vishwanath (60), in ख्वाजाफूल Mahesh (40), in पुखरायां Vinod Kumar (37), in तारनपुर Ram Prasad (75), in the neonatal कृपालपुर Gopal, रसूलाबाद अंप्र according कारेरामपुर of the rich (7), in अपौना Pramod Singh (32), the queen goddess कहिंजरी Khurd (45), in बरईझाल Pankaj (21), compassion in मुन्नू Singh (45), in डूडामहुआ Baburam (60), बुझवा In the King (35), in जैतपुर Chandrabhan (40), in तेरागांव foolwati (45), हरदेव (50), Rani Devi (13), in साहनीपुर Abdul (40), coming from the grip of the fever have been killed.
Bilhaur in the area at the temple priest खजुरिया निवादा Ramadoss of infectious disease has been talked to death.
Meanwhile, Chitrakoot भरतकूप मानपुर the मेंएक family बच्चियां five were suffering from malaria, including one child's breath to stop गयीं Tuesday.

बराह मानपुर के एक वृद्ध ने भी बुखार से दम तोड़ दिया।

बराह of an elderly मानपुर have also died from fever. In addition, a half-dozen victims were treated in the hospital are doing. District hospital was full of the fever victims. According to Dr. Karan Gautam including fever, malaria every hundred patients coming to hospital. Fifty-two, (Hardoi) for the prevention of infectious diseases by the Department of Health were all steps taken so far proved in vain. Two of the primary health centre in the village लोनार Monday night, suffering from diarrhoea ramratan wife Maya, 3-year-old son हरीओम, छेदा red 3-year-old son of Rohit and रतीराम the daughter of kajal during treatment have been killed, while dozens of people lying on the bed Are facing death. Fatehpur's rural areas in the tsunami, malaria has become. Sadar hospital, primary and community health centres, to patients not receiving adequate medical benefits because people are getting treatment from doctors quacks. malaria bite, Bindki Living in agony because region, including, but असोथर Block 25, and his सरकंडी ग्रामसभा in मजरों the disease is the most impact. In the past 24 hours सरकंडी in the deaths of two patients, and has been so death toll from infectious diseases have been ten. 386 people suffering from malaria to treat blood test is being made.
Health officials to be alert
Lucknow. In the fast-foot पसार communicable diseases are to deal with the state Health Department's health officials to alert them. The Department claims that the countryside in Kanpur seven from August until now all the known deaths from the disease. Their behind the unknown virus rumour is unfounded.

राज्य में अभी तक डायरिया से 88, खसरा से 45, एक्यूट इंसेफ्लाइटिस सिंड्रोम से 148, जापानी इंसेफ्लाइटिस से पांच लोगों की मौत हो चुकी है।

So far, 88 of diarrhoea in the state, measles and 45, from 148 Acute Syndrome इंसेफ्लाइटिस, Japanese इंसेफ्लाइटिस five people dead.

मलेरिया अब तक 40 जानें ले चुका है।

Malaria has so far taken 40 lives. Communicable diseases for the coming season pigeons.The Director General of Health Dr IS Srivastava, a medical order issued by the alert to all districts. Additional Director General of the All CMO and Director (Health) to order any of outbreaks of infectious diseases in the region receiving the information to order immediate medical providers. Its immediate report of the Health Directorate Control Room has also been asked to. Meanwhile, Additional Director of the Board of Kanpur, Dr SP Singh, 'Jagran' that the last 124 days in which patients died, 21 of them suffering from malaria fever-like symptoms, though these were not patients of the blood become unable to slide Because it is difficult to confirm. However, the mystery of these deaths is not like anything.Additional Director, said that deaths from the rest of the snake ,tuberculosis, chronic diseases and natural reasons. He said the remaining 11 deaths related to other districts. He said the deaths are not unusual or extraordinary. Additional Director, said the senior officer himself in the district headquarters of the camp, which directed Kanpur in the countryside to the four blocks in the sensitive broad-scale prevention and control campaign is being run. He claimed that the situation is under control. http://translate.google.com/translat...3Den%26tl%3Dhi

Announcement

India: Mystery virus kills 160

India: Mystery virus kills 160

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment