The state government on Friday halted its mass vaccination drive for Hepatitis B outbreak, even as the death toll due to the mutated HBV strain continued to rise with four more deaths. So far, 53 deaths have been reported.

During the three-day drive, the state Health Department administered free Hepatitis B vaccine to 77, 259 people, mostly in Modasa. “We are now stopping it. Neither we have any plans to take it further, nor it has been recommended,” said Dr Sudhir Gandhi, deputy director, epidemics.

Six more patients were tested positive today, taking the total number of patients to 171.

Meanwhile, the private medical fraternity in Modasa continued with their strike to protest against the police complaints against six doctors and sealing of clinics. As patients admitted to these private clinics had been released, the two trust-run hospitals in the town — Ghanchi Sarvodaya Mandal Trust Hospital and Sarvajanik Trust Hospital — witnessed an upsurge of patients.

“We are under stress right now. The police and health officials are treating doctors like criminals; randomly sealing clinics when patients are inside and pulling them out from homes. This cannot continue,” said Dr Dinesh Patel, president of the Modasa chapter of Indian Medical Association.

The local police lodged complaints against six doctors on Thursday for unsafe biomedical waste practice. The protestors have submitted memorandum to the district authorities, but said that no assurance from the government has come as yet. “What can we do for patients now? We are working in stressful conditions. We hope there will be some outcome of the negotiations by tonight,” said Dr Patel.