In their frantic investigations into the hepatitis-B outbreak, Sabarkantha officials have seized a cache of used syringes, needles and IV sets from a Modasa scrap shop that could provide clues about the spread of the virus.

The medical supplies were found, on Wednesday, during a raid on Shabnam Scrap Centre, in Bhangar Gali. “How the items reached a scrap shop is still a mystery. But the culprit will be found and punished,” said the assistant commissioner of food and drug department, KG Nogia. 

No hepatitis-B death was reported in Modasa on Wednesday. 

As for the raids, four more scrap shops were inspected, through Wednesday night, in Bhangar Gali. After realising that medical waste is not being disposed of properly in Modasa, district health officials have begun to inspect private clinics in the taluka. 

Around 26 teams of health officials have started inspecting clinics. Dr Mina, who is among the inspectors, said that a waste-management company usually collected medical waste from Modasa doctors. “But we want to investigate if the waste is being dumped,” Mina said.On Wednesday, the inspection teams raided around 75 clinics and pathology laboratories in Modasa. 

Niyati Rana/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication