The Hindu : Fresh case with plague-like symptoms

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Sunday, Feb 24, 2002

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Fresh case with plague-like symptoms

CHANDIGARH, FEB. 23. A fresh case with plague-like symptoms was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, where two patients undergoing treatment for pneumonic plague were serious while three others were said to be improving.

Karamjit Kaur of Riond Khurd village on Punjab-Haryana border was admitted to PGI yesterday with symptoms similar to the disease, the sources.

She was referred to the Chandigarh Hospital by the Civil Hospital, Hisar, they said.

``It is too early to say if Karmajit has plague or some other illness. Various tests are being done to determine the exact nature of her disease,'' the PGI director, S. K. Sharma, told PTI here.

He said Karamjit had been admitted to the isolation ward where other plague patients were being treated.

The condition of Rakesh and Naveen, undergoing treatment for pneumonic plague at PGI, was serious while three others - Satya, Jyoti and Purshottam - from Himachal Pradesh were better, the sources said.

They said Satya was improving and could be discharged in another two days. Jyoti was also improving while purshottam was having low grade fever.

The sources said Karamjit was said to have lobar pneumonia and had received streptomycin and tetracyclin before coming to PGI.

Her condition was stable though she was showing plague-like symptoms, they said.

Karamjit's husband Krishan Kumar had recently accompanied one Baldev Singh to PGI. Kumar reportedly came in contact with patients afflicted with pneumonic plague hailing from Rohru (Himachal) and fell ill.

Kumar was treated at a private clinic at Chandigarh but when his condition deteriorated, he was referred to PGI where he died. PGI authorities declined to confirm if Kumar had been afflicted with plague.

``Krishan Kumar was brought to PGI in a critical condition on Wednesday. He died within four hours of his arrival,'' Dr. Sharma said.

``In retrospect, we may say he could have possibly died of plague, because he might have contracted it from other patients in Himachal Pradesh. But this is just a theory and we cannot confirm anything at this stage.''

The Himachal Governor, Suraj Bhan, the Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal, and Himachal Vikas Congress president, Sukh Ram, today visited PGI and met the relatives of the patients.

- PTI

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