An Informal discussion between a block health officer and another doctor’s relatives seems to have alerted the state health machinery that a full blown, unusual Hepatitis B outbreak is in the offing in Modasa. Overworked and shuttling between two primary health centres (PHCs), Dr R L Zeparkar, a Block Health Officer, wryly admitted that he had reported about an unusual hepatitis case in his family during a routine health meeting at the district headquarters in Himmatnagar.

When Karsan Priyadarshi (45), a primary school teacher in nearby Varthu village got unwell, a Modasa-based private practitioner treated him. A mention in a family discussion about his deteriorating condition made Dr Zeparkar curious. Priyadarshi died later in the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

“He was known to my relative. Priyadarshi was being treated at

Dr Bhavesh Patel's hospital, but his condition continued to worsen and my relative asked me why he was not improving. It made me suspicious and I began inquiring,” said Dr Zeparkar, who is posted at Limboi PHC, but has been holding additional charge of Modasa PHC since last month.

While discussing the case informally with Dr Patel, Dr Zeparkar found it was a Hepatitis B positive case. Further queries revealed that an unusual number of Hepatitis B cases were being reported in the area, which led him to report his suspicion to his seniors in an official meeting in Himmatnagar. “We came the very next day and started inquiry. Most were found to be Hepatitis B positive, with an unusual rate of high fatality,” said Dr H S Patel, the Sabarkantha Chief District Health Officer.

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