February 7, 2002

    A section of the Press has quoted the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. C.P. Thakur, to report that " Siliguri Fever was Bio-terror". It is factually incorrect. On being asked about the current status of the "Siliguri episode" at the Press Conference held at Kolkata, Dr. Thakur stated that it would be a variant of measles or paramyxovirus such as Nipah virus as suspected in a similar episode in Bangladesh recently. He also stated that more epidemiological data is being gathered and collaboration with CDC, Atlanta is on to find out the correct identity of the organism. Hence at this moment the nature of the organism is not certain.

    On being asked whether it could be bio-terrorism, the Minister replied that since the identity was not certain, it would be premature at this moment to make any comment.