Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Aug 5: A student from Govind Nagar, Pitrody near Katapadi here had passed away 15 days back. It has transpired that he became victim of a rare disease, Neuro Melloldosis.

The boy in question, Deekshit (18), began to suffer from fever after torrential rain and resultant flood affected the people. Although he was admitted into hospital immediately, by then the bacteria had invaded his brain and inflicted considerable damage to it. Without responding treatment given, Deekshit breathed his last late night on July 21 at KMC Hospital Manipal.

Deekshit, son of Jaya N Kunder and Prathima couple, belonged to a poor family but he was hard working and brilliant. In PU examination, he scored 95 percent marks. He had succeeded in securing a seat in Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal. The family was dreaming of seeing him turning into an engineer, but destiny had other plans, and it delivered a rude shock to the family, friends and close ones of Deekshit.

Melloldosis happens to be a contagious disease which is contracted through a kind of bacteria which proliferate in wet, alluvial soil and marshy atmosphere. Its symptoms match those of pneumonia. The bacteria gain entry into bodies during contact with contaminated soil and water, and through incisions made in the skin in paddy fields. The disease does not spread from person to person.

Grave infection of the lungs, septicemia, etc and the ulcer which normally appears in prostate gland or spleen are the warning symptoms of this disease. If the infected person is admitted into the hospital in the initial stages, he can be healed with prolonged treatment after prompt diagnosis through the laboratory.

Alerted by this incident, Udyavar gram panchayat organized a meeting to spread awareness about this disease among the people. The people were told that this disease took root on account of flood, and asked people against moving around fields and slush barefooted.

A team of doctors from KMC Hospital, working in tandem with health department officials and Dr Akhilesh of NCDC New Delhi, has collected samples of mud and water from the surroundings of the deceased student's house to find out the source of the bacteria.