Treatment for anthrax sans medical reports

Visakhapatnam: All the anthrax patients were undergoing treatment for two months on mere suspicion only. A majority of the suspected anthrax patients were consuming medicines for about two months even though they are not affected. This is being done without obtaining medical reports.  

Due to lack of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) testing laboratories in the state for confirmation of anthrax infection, the tests are being done now at Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) labs located at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh and Ranchi in Jharkhand. In fact, the doctors in the government hospitals are treating anthrax patients after micro-biology tests (clinically confirmed).

However, for official confirmation of anthrax infection, the DRDO scientists are taking the samples and examining them at the DRDO laboratories located in Ranchi and Gwalior. Due to various reasons, the test reports are reaching the hospitals after two months.  Doctors are treating the patients even on suspicious grounds. A majority of the test reports have shown the medical reports as negative. 

“In fact, after clinical confirmation, we are starting the treatment on the suspicion or premise that the patient was affected with anthrax bacteria. In fact, after treating him for four or five days, the patient started recovering and we are discharging them from the hospital.

However, a course of medicines is being given to the patients till the test reports revealed the patient affected with anthrax,” G Arjuna, superintendent of King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, said while speaking to The Hans India.

Medical treatment was given to more than 90 tribals on suspicious grounds. The patients are rushing to King George’s Hospital even without obtaining proper references from doctors. 

After admitting them in the hospital, the doctors are starting treatment on suspicious grounds as though they are affected by anthrax. In majority of the cases, the patients are being discharged within one week. 

By VKL Gayatri