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Team for Shimla to investigate 'plague-like' infection
By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 16. A team of scientists from the Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior, is rushing to Shimla, capital of Himachal Pradesh, to join in the probe into the outbreak of a ``plague-like'' infection there. So far, 17 cases have been reported and, of them, three persons have died. The others are undergoing treatment.

The team, led by Batra, is leaving tonight and will first reach the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, where the infected persons have been admitted. They will then visit the village near Shimla - from where the cases have been reported - for a field survey.

The DRDE specialises in bio-warfare and is known to be one of the best centres for investigating the outbreak of deadly diseases. It played a vital role in unravelling the plague epidemic, which hit Surat in 1994.

Meanwhile, officials in the Union Health Ministry said it might take another two days before the exact identity of the infection could be established. Though the symptoms were very akin to those of plague, there were also other infections which showed similar symptoms. It was, therefore, essential that all the possibilities were looked into. Elaborate tests were being conducted and the final report would be available by Monday, they said.

In any case, the outbreak seemed to have been contained as no fresh case had been reported since February 8. The Ministry had despatched broad spectrum antibiotics to the affected areas with a view to protecting the others.

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