UP: High-alert sounded after 84 die due to 'mystery disease'
In Uttar Pradesh, a 'mystery fever' killed as many as 84 people in the last six weeks, following which the Yogi Adityanath government has issued a high alert across the state. Bareilly recorded the highest number of deaths, 24, and in nearby Badaun district, 23 casualties were reported. An audit of every death, to ascertain the disease, has been ordered by the health ministry.
What's being done to control the disease
Uttar Pradesh Director General of Health Services Padmakar Singh said prima facie this seemed like cases of viral fever, typhoid and malaria. To curb the disease, camps were being set, medicines were distributed and mosquito-fogging drives were conducted, he said. "I am confident that we will be able to control this," he added. Teams from Center and State have been deployed in affected areas.
Father of deceased child speaks about disease
"His body was burning. I initially took him to the village doctor, but there was no improvement in his condition. Although I took him to the district hospital after that, he did not survive," a man, who lost his 12-year-old to the disease, said.
Health minister says relatives take patients to quacks, not doctors
Further, UP Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh advised victims' relatives to not take them to quacks. He said the relatives approached health officials after condition worsened, and this contributed to high casualty rate. In a press release, the government identified Bareilly, Budaun, Hardoi, Sitapur, Bahraich and Shahjahanpur as affected areas. Additionally, a government spokesman said people shouldn't believe 'misleading' media reports.
