As fewer new cases of hepatitis B have been reported in and around Modasa in the last two weeks, the health department is planning the second phase of the vaccination drive in the area.

Though the measures to contain the disease are in full swing, the health officials are refraining from drawing any conclusion about the predictability of the mutated virus and interpretation of the present situation.

As the state health department officials in association with experts from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, and National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), New Delhi, have continued with the measures to contain the epidemic, fresh samples of the mutated virus strain are not being collected anymore, said sources.

While the official death toll has been 60 and the epidemic seems to have come under control, health department officials refuse to say so clearly.

Sudhir Gandhi, the Deputy Director, Epidemic, says, “Our efforts over the last few weeks have started showing some results. And although we have been able to arrest the new cases and deaths, we can’t predict anything.”

Chief District Health Officer (CDHO) of Sabarkantha, HS Patel, however, said that although the HBV epidemic has come under control and new samples are not being collected, the exact status of the mutated virus cases cannot be interpreted. “The number of cases which come up daily has decreased. In view of all the epidemic control measures being undertaken, it seems the outbreak will remain under control in future as well. But the cases will keep trickling for the next six months.”