Encephalitis - India: (UP) RFI
Date: Fri 21 Aug 2009
Source: The Times of India (TOI), Times News Network (TNN) [edited]
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Mystery-virus-kills-137-in-UP-experts-clueless/articleshow/4916125.cms>
It's a virus that has already claimed over 100 lives but Indian and
American scientists seem to have no clue about what it is. Since
January [2009], the state has recorded 665 cases of acute
encephalitis syndrome (AES) -- a severe neurological condition
associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Around 137
people have already succumbed to the viral infection.
Lab investigations have revealed that only 34 of the cases and 4 of
the deaths were caused by Japanese encephalitis [virus infection] --
a known scourge in the state. However, scientists have no clue what
caused the rest of the 133 encephalitis deaths and 631 cases.
According to officials, this mystery virus has been causing brain
fever and killing people in UP since last year [2008] but no
breakthrough has been made regarding the virus's identity and nature.
Experts from Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Atlanta
had picked up 150 samples from UP to help identify the virus. But
they too have failed to make any headway. Speaking to TOI, director
of National Institute of Virology (Gorakhpur) Dr Milind Gore said,
"We are working on identifying the virus and its origin. At present
we don't know what's causing these cases of AES and deaths. We
suspect it could be a type of enterovirus."
Dr Gore added, "It is clear that JE [virus] alone isn't causing AES.
We recently checked 450 stool swabs and found that 68 percent of them
were positive for enteroviruses. However, we don't know exactly which
one from this family of viruses is the dominant one behind the
deaths. Even CDC experts haven't figured it out." Officials said the
search for the "real culprit" behind the AES cases had taken a
beating in the last few months with scientists in NIV Pune drowned
with H1N1 samples.
"H1N1 has proved to be a setback for the work on encephalitis in UP.
Improved methods of diagnosis and new primers were to be tested
against the unknown virus. But everybody at NIV Pune is busy with
H1N1," an official said.
AES is characterised by inflammation of the brain, seizures, and
convulsions among children.
International NGO PATH's senior programme officer for JE Dr Pritu
Dhalaria told TOI, "Usually, around 4-5 enteroviruses work in tandem,
in clusters in particular areas. It is therefore difficult to
identify exactly which virus is the deadly one. By this time last
year [2008], UP had recorded 435 AES cases of which only 15 were
caused by JE [virus]. This year [2009], the cases have increased, and
we don't know which virus is behind it."
Non-polio enteroviruses are very common across the globe. They are
2nd only to the common cold viruses, the rhinoviruses, as the most
common viral infectious agents in humans. Although infection often
has no symptoms and goes unnoticed, these viruses are also associated
with occasional outbreaks in which a larger-than-usual number of
patients develop clinical disease, sometimes with fatal consequences.
Transmission of enterovirus infections is increased by poor hygiene
and overcrowded living conditions. Measures that can be taken to
avoid getting infected with enteroviruses include frequent hand
washing.
Enteroviruses can be found in the respiratory secretions and stool of
an infected person. Other persons may become infected by direct
contact with secretions from an infected person or by contact with
contaminated surfaces or objects.
According to some experts, UP has seen a nearly 40 percent increase
in AES cases this year [2009], majority of them not belonging to the
enterovirus category.
[Byline: Kounteya Sinha]
Source: The Times of India (TOI), Times News Network (TNN) [edited]
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Mystery-virus-kills-137-in-UP-experts-clueless/articleshow/4916125.cms>
It's a virus that has already claimed over 100 lives but Indian and
American scientists seem to have no clue about what it is. Since
January [2009], the state has recorded 665 cases of acute
encephalitis syndrome (AES) -- a severe neurological condition
associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Around 137
people have already succumbed to the viral infection.
Lab investigations have revealed that only 34 of the cases and 4 of
the deaths were caused by Japanese encephalitis [virus infection] --
a known scourge in the state. However, scientists have no clue what
caused the rest of the 133 encephalitis deaths and 631 cases.
According to officials, this mystery virus has been causing brain
fever and killing people in UP since last year [2008] but no
breakthrough has been made regarding the virus's identity and nature.
Experts from Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Atlanta
had picked up 150 samples from UP to help identify the virus. But
they too have failed to make any headway. Speaking to TOI, director
of National Institute of Virology (Gorakhpur) Dr Milind Gore said,
"We are working on identifying the virus and its origin. At present
we don't know what's causing these cases of AES and deaths. We
suspect it could be a type of enterovirus."
Dr Gore added, "It is clear that JE [virus] alone isn't causing AES.
We recently checked 450 stool swabs and found that 68 percent of them
were positive for enteroviruses. However, we don't know exactly which
one from this family of viruses is the dominant one behind the
deaths. Even CDC experts haven't figured it out." Officials said the
search for the "real culprit" behind the AES cases had taken a
beating in the last few months with scientists in NIV Pune drowned
with H1N1 samples.
"H1N1 has proved to be a setback for the work on encephalitis in UP.
Improved methods of diagnosis and new primers were to be tested
against the unknown virus. But everybody at NIV Pune is busy with
H1N1," an official said.
AES is characterised by inflammation of the brain, seizures, and
convulsions among children.
International NGO PATH's senior programme officer for JE Dr Pritu
Dhalaria told TOI, "Usually, around 4-5 enteroviruses work in tandem,
in clusters in particular areas. It is therefore difficult to
identify exactly which virus is the deadly one. By this time last
year [2008], UP had recorded 435 AES cases of which only 15 were
caused by JE [virus]. This year [2009], the cases have increased, and
we don't know which virus is behind it."
Non-polio enteroviruses are very common across the globe. They are
2nd only to the common cold viruses, the rhinoviruses, as the most
common viral infectious agents in humans. Although infection often
has no symptoms and goes unnoticed, these viruses are also associated
with occasional outbreaks in which a larger-than-usual number of
patients develop clinical disease, sometimes with fatal consequences.
Transmission of enterovirus infections is increased by poor hygiene
and overcrowded living conditions. Measures that can be taken to
avoid getting infected with enteroviruses include frequent hand
washing.
Enteroviruses can be found in the respiratory secretions and stool of
an infected person. Other persons may become infected by direct
contact with secretions from an infected person or by contact with
contaminated surfaces or objects.
According to some experts, UP has seen a nearly 40 percent increase
in AES cases this year [2009], majority of them not belonging to the
enterovirus category.
[Byline: Kounteya Sinha]
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