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Thursday, January 20, 2011

India : NIV sounds alert on new virus

Via Times of India :

" PUNE: The National Institute of Virology (NIV) has alerted medical establishments in the state to keep an eye on any case of dengue showing unusually serious clinical manifestation to rule out the presence of the newly-identified virus, initial infection signs of which bear resemblance to dengue haemorrhagic fever. However, unlike dengue, the Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) virus is highly infectious and carries a mortality rate of up to 90 per cent, which is very high. The virus, isolated and identified by the NIV on Monday, has claimed three lives in Gujarat in the last 15 days.

"This for the first time that the virus has been identified in India. Considering the highly infectious nature of the virus, it is extremely important to be vigilant. Precaution is the key to keep the virus at bay," A C Mishra, director of NIV told TOI on Wednesday."

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