Three more people die in Modasa, taking the toll to 59

It has been almost a fortnight since the hepatitis-B virus swept through Modasa, but experts are still clueless about the precise source of the deadly contagion, although they have examined 12,000 samples of blood and serum. More samples are being scrutinised. 

London, Feb 25 : Obese teenagers run the same risk of premature death in adulthood as people who smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day, according to a new study.

The British Medical Journal study also found that people who are overweight have the same risk as less heavy smokers.

To reach the conclusion, Dr Martin Neovius at Karolinska Institute in Sweden, analysed the cause of death of over 45,000 men who underwent mandatory military conscription tests in Sweden.

All participants had their body mass index (BMI) measured and reported their smoking status at the age of 18 and were tracked down for an average of 38 years.

The city now has its first cardiac helpline designed by the Asian Heart Institute exclusively to deal with heart problems — both routine as well as emergency ones like a heart attack. A call to the helpline (126 126) would ensure that an ambulance reaches the patient's doorstep in about 30 minutes during the day and 15 minutes at night.

Alongside, the state's first air ambulance service was also launched by union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss on Monday for patients outside Mumbai.

Kapila Patel, 38, a homemaker residing in Mori Dungri village in Modasa taluka, did not know that the ringworms she suffered from would lead her to acquiring the deadly hepatitis B virus.

Kapila lost her life on Monday during her treatment at Modasa general hospital. She was diagnosed with hepatitis B last week.

Kapila's family members claim that she had reportedly gone to Dr Govind Patel to get her ringworm treatment done. Dr Patel is now absconding.

Later she had also visited Dr Dilip Shah for treatment and she started feeling feverish. "Dr Patel was a popular doctor for skin related treatments. Villagers from surrounding areas used to visit him for dermatological related problems," said a villager.

Those vaccinated under the mass vaccination programme will get whole life protection against hepatitis-B, provided they complete the full course by taking three doses in 90 days.

The cost of one dose of the vaccine is just Rs11 per dose, which is among the world's best vaccine in the world, claims the Hyderabad headquartered Bharat Biotech that has despatched one lakh doses to Modasa.

India will emerge as a winner in this recession period when all the developed countries are going through a bad time, said Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, former director general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

He inaugurated Indian Medical Association's KH Sancheti Hall on Sunday. Founder of Sancheti Hospital Dr KH Sancheti, joint replacement surgeon from Mumbai Dr Nandakumar Lad, Pune Fertility Centre's director Dr Bharati-Dhore Patil and Dr Maya Tulpule were present.

Dr Mashelkar said that senior Sancheti has brought in a revolution by innovating Indus knee which will help many to get rid of osteoporosis that is getting common these days.