Search the Internet          Tips

Fresh plague-like case reported, two
still serious

A fresh case with plague-like symptoms was referred to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, where two patients undergoing treatment for pneumonic plague were serious and the condition of three others was improving.

Karamjit Kaur of Riond Khurd village on Punjab-Haryana border was admitted to PGIMER on Friday with symptoms similar to that of the killer disease, sources said on Saturday.

"It is too early to say if Karamjit has plague. Various tests are being done to determine the exact nature of her disease," PGI director S K Sharma said, adding that she had been admitted to the hospital's isolation ward.

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

Karamjit's husband Krishan Kumar had recently accompanied one Baldev Singh to PGIMER. Kumar reportedly came in contact with patients afflicted with pneumonic plague hailing from Rohru, Himachal Pradesh.

He was treated at a private clinic in Chandigarh, but when his condition deteriorated he was referred to PGIMER, where he died.

PGIMER 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 arrival," 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. But this is just a theory and we cannot confirm anything at this stage."

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

Meanwhile, Himachal Governor Suraj Bhan, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Himachal Vikas Congress president Sukh Ram on Saturday visited PGIMER and met relatives of the patients.

Tell us what you think of this report