Scientists Investigating Fatal Litchi Virus in West Bengal
Scientists Investigating Fatal Litchi Virus in West Bengal
Litchis are sweet and juicy fruits and a particular favourite with people on hot summer days. But this fruit is deadly now because of the litchi virus that has led to the death of children in West Bengal and neighbouring states such as Vietnam and Bangladesh. While scientists are trying to find out more about the virus, many children have died following ingestion of this fruit. 13 children have died in Malda as a result of this virus. Junior health minister Chandrima Bhattacharya has cautioned against giving children unripe litchis. She has argued in the State Assembly that unripe litchis, prima facie have triggered toxin methylenecyclopropyl-glycine which has led to the death of the children.
She has also discussed how this toxin makes it fatal for undernourished children, leading to deaths caused by encephalitis. Scientists at The School of Tropical medicine have already sent medical experts Dr. Mehboob Rehman and virologist Dr. Bhaswati Bandopadhyay to investigate the cause of the deaths. The samples have also been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pine. Assembly opposition leader Surjya Kanta Mishra insisted that more empirical evidence is needed before conclusions can be drawn regarding the deaths. Vietnam and Bangladesh have also reported deaths during the litchi harvesting season in areas where the fruit is grown. While Vietnam attributed it to a mystery virus, Bangladesh has identified the deaths due to high levels of pesticides.
Similar cases were reported when 47 children died in 2011 and 188 in 2012 in the litchi growing belt of Muzzafarpur. The deaths due to acute encyphalitis syndrome or AES were extensively researched. Scientists found that the Muzzafarpur AES was restricted to litchi growing seasons and locations. Children were found unwell the morning after eating the litchis. They suffered brain function derangement and seizures. Undernourishment has been reported to be the prevalent in the cases of all children who died. In Malda as well, the situation has repeated itself. The Bihar government has asked virologist T Jacob John and Mukul Das of the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research to investigate the deaths.
The researchers had found that the effect of the toxin MCPG found in the litchi seeds was dangerous. It had deranged the fatty acid metabolism triggering AES. Well-nourished children were not affected in any way as their glucose store is sufficient to maintain normal glucose levels when gluconeogenesis is not triggered. The experts probing the Malda case have said this could be a virus as it spreads in a small area. The certainty with which the conclusion can be made depends on the results from Pune. The researchers are also declaring that they will ascertain if there is any link to the deaths in Bihar.
Virologist Dr. Amiya Hati said she needed more statistical evidence for drawing any conclusion. Dr Trishith Roy who is a neuromedicine expert has said it is too early to ascertain if the Muzzafarpur AES is the cause of the deaths in Malda as well. What is clear to the investigating researchers, scientists and experts is that this is a localised problem. Of the total of 13 deaths, 12 are from Kaliachak ony. Experts have also collected samples of litchi from orchards in affected areas for a toxicology study to identify the virus strain of the disease. It is critical that every R & D support be extended to the experts at Malda so that the cause of the deaths can be identified with accuracy. When the deaths at Muzzafarpur were identified as the result of the toxin release especially for undernourished children, adequate precautions should have been taken so that the situation does not repeat itself. While scientists will find out more about the litchi virus through further investigations, State governments should take the precautions and issue warnings regarding consumption of litchis in areas where the virus has been reported. Undernourishment also needs to be combated as it is a deadly disease in itself. With a new government at the Centre, state governments need to mobilise R & D funding so that scientists can identify ways and means to eliminate such virus and diseases.
