NIV rules out outbreak of Hantavirus in Surat

SURAT: The National Institute of Virology (NIV) on Tuesday ruled out outbreak of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HSD), a disease that spreads through rat urine, droppings or saliva, in Surat after testing samples of 46 people affected by various diseases.

Assistant Director of NIV, Pune, M S Chaddha told reporters here Hantavirus has not been found in blood and serum samples of any of the affected persons.

"The institute has so far checked 46 samples of the affected people," she added.

After the worst floods in the history of Surat, 17 people have died so far and hundreds have been affected by various diseases like leptospirosis, pneumonia and viral infections.

 On August 24, after deaths of two persons due to suspected Hantavirus, the administration had been on alert.

Blood and serum samples were sent to various national medical institutes including NIV, Pune for tests.  Surat was affected by plague in 1994.