No plague in Surat, say health officials

Surat, Aug 24 (UNI) Health officials and senior doctors here have categorically denied a plague outbreak in the city.

The officials, at a press conference at the New Civil Hospital, said that the deaths reported in the city were due to leptospirosis and out of the nine suspected cases, six had tested positive for leptospirosis. The other three patients have not shown symptoms of leptospirosis.

Dr Vikasben Desai of Surat Medical College said that one death was reported this morning and confirmed to be a leptospirosis case.

Dr Desai said test results of samples sent from here to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases is awaited.

The press conference was also attended by Dr Sunderlal (National Institute of Communicable Diseases), Nirmal Chorasiya (Indian Medical Association), Pankaj Joshi (Surat Municipal Commissioner), Dr Ketan Desai (Mahavir Hospital) Dr I C Patel (Deputy health commissioner, SMC) and Dr Anil Patel (New Civil Hospital).

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