NEET Aspirant dies of Hepatitis-A in Kota; 35 students tested positive in a week

Kota: An 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Jawahar Nagar of Kota, died of hepatic encephalopathy while 35 other coaching students in the same area tested positive for hepatitis-A in a week.

Vaibhav Roy died during treatment at a private hospital. He was hospitalized on October 5 and was diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy.

Of the 35 others, 18 students were discharged from the hospital, while 12 with mild symptoms are still under treatment at three private hospitals in Jawahar Nagar, said officials.

Kota Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO), Dr. Jagdish Soni, confirmed Roy’s death due to hepatitis-A infection. Dr. Rajiv Sharma, who treated Roy at a private hospital, informed that the student was admitted with fever and jaundice but within the next two days, his health deteriorated to hepatic encephalopathy from hepatitis viral. “The protocol for his treatment was put in place immediately, but the swelling in his brain was so severe that he could not survive,” he said.

As the number of cases was increasing, the water supplied in the area was tested, in which, out of 65 samples three samples were found contaminated, said CMHO.

“Hepatitis-A among the coaching students was most likely caused by contaminated water and food as liver enzymes among the infected students were found to be alarmingly higher than normal, but each student under treatment is recovering,” Dr. KK Pareek said.

The Chief Medical and Health Officer has been directed to probe the spread. The report is yet to come.