NEW DELHI: Even after 4282 cases and 53 deaths, scientists are in doubt as to what to term the recent epidemic that swept through Surat, Delhi and several other parts of the country.
Since the current strain of bacteria is yet to be successfully cultured, scientists seem reluctant to state that the epidemic was caused by Yersinia Pest is the bacteria that causes plague.
Some experts feel that other diseases which have similar symptoms like melodies is or hunter’s virus, cannot be ruled out.
Dr. Y.K.Gupta, former Director of the National Institute of Virology of Pune, said it had to be confirmed through the culture and animal inoculation tests, He was. one of experts who participated in a discussion on “The Surat Epidemic,” organized by the Indian Science Writers Association here.
‘The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) had taken several samples from persons afflicted with the disease in Surat. Of 32 samples, they were able to grow cultures from 18 samples.
Dr. U.V.S. Rana, microbiologist and pant of the NICD team which visited Surat said that a microscopic view of the culture showed that the bacteria colony resembled that of the Yersina Pest is, but refused to categorically say so.
Dr. Gupta, however, claimed that the epidemiological proof had several lacunae. In an epidemic, several members of the same families should develop symptoms of the highly infectious pneumonic plague, which was not the case in Surat. Moreover, despite several people fleeing the city and travelling in public transport, the disease did not spread to many people, The third point he raise was that plague was not endemic to Surat, like it was in Kolar.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 14, 1994
