...And now Echo virus

LUCKNOW: Apart from dengue and Japanese Encephalitis scare post monsoon, the state health machinery is keeping its fingers crossed over recurrence of ‘Echo virus’, the deadly strain which had five densely-populated districts of western UP, Ghaziabad, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Baghpat and Bijnore reeling under its spell last year.
Health directorate claims the number of deaths was 150 that time.The virus which mainly affected children, had led to a virtual curfew-like situation in these townships. In Saharanpur specially, parents had refused to let their children attend school for fear of contacting the “killer fever which had no cure�.
The fever had the health department in knots as confusion over identifying the virus took nearly a month to clear and finally NICD could come with a clear diagnosis ruling out JE, dengue and measles.
This year, health department is making efforts to ensure the epidemic does not recur. Talking to the TNN, on Saturday,
director, communicable diseases, JS Chawala said that the principal secretary, health had made a visit to Saharanpur - the worst-affected district last year, and cautioned the health officials to take all precautionary measures.
Since the encephalitis virus breeds and is communicated though unhygienic living condition, the health department, said Chawala, with the help of the municipal corporations is working full time to carry out fogging and clean up campaigns.