Rare Virus affects hundreds in India's Gujarat
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Rare Virus affects hundreds in India's Gujarat*
25 Aug 2006 13:14:00 GMT
Source: Reuters
AHMEDABAD, India, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Hundreds of people with high fever
and severe body ache have been admitted to hospitals in the west Indian
state Gujarat, officials said on Thursday.
They said the illness was likely to be Chikungunya, a rare form of viral
fever spread by mosquitoes. Gujarat was hit by heavy rains and floods
this month, and health officials had warned of disease outbreaks.
More than 900 people were being treated for the fever in the state's
main city Ahmedabad, while in Surat -- the nerve-centre of India's
diamond-polishing trade -- officials asked people not to visit crowded
places and to clean stagnant water.
Surat has reported 63 cases with similar symptoms.