Based on a long study and research on the mosquito-borne viral fever that is prevalent in Tamil Nadu and a careful analysis of symptoms of patients, the scientists at the bioinformatics division of the Biotechnology Department at Presidency College in Chennai have come to a conclusion that the viral infection may probably be due to the spread of an Australian virus called Ross River Virus (RRV). The fever, known as Ross River Fever (RRF), is commonly found in Australia.

The Department has forwarded the study report to the ICMR and to the Health Department of the state to initiate a screening study on mosquitoes based on their analysis, said Dr S Rajarajan, head of PG Research Centre of the bioinformatics division of DBT at the College. Recently the director of ICMR while attending a scientific seminar in Chennai has commented that the viral fever now prevalent in Tamil Nadu was not Chikkungunya, but a disease like Chikkungunya with all its symptoms.

Dr Rajarajan said the prevailing viral infection in the state has all the symptoms of Chikkungunya, but it is different from that. His department at the College has been conducting research on the disease after testing patients from every district of the state and reached the conclusion that it might be the symptoms of Ross River Disease spread by RRV.

While speaking to Pharmabiz, he said the Ross River Fever (RRF) is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by the infection of Ross River Virus. The disease is typically characterized by an influenza-like illness of polyarthritis. Since the RRF is pandemic in Australia, his department has contacted the African agencies who hold researches on Ross River Virus to send a Serodiagnostic Kit to his Department for more confirmation.

“We are conducting researches on viruses. Based on the careful analysis of the symptoms of patients, we could differentiate the general symptoms of Chikkungunya, Dengue and Sinbie with RRF. The disease has already affected 50 percent of the people in the state, especially the people of the coastal areas. It becomes pandemic in the post rainy season,” Rajarajan told Pharmabiz.

“The RRF can cause joint inflammation and pain, fatigue and muscle aches. Many infected people also develop a rash of variable appearance. Everyone recovers, although some people have intermittent symptoms for a year or more. It is caused by an alpha virus, which is spread by mosquitoes. Arthritis caused by Ross River Virus disease lasts from days to months. The joints commonly affected include wrists, knees,ankles and small joints of the extremities, such as fingers or toes,” he said

According to his study, the conclusion is based on two reasons such as the typical symptom analysis of the disease which found that the patients have Fasciitis (swollen face) along with moderate fever, joint pain and swelling on joints. The second reason was with regard to the analysis done by the accumulation of synovial fluid in Tendons, especially from limbs.

He said, “The special species that carry the virus are Anopheles and Culex. Though the specific species are found in Australia, it is not reported in India. He said the disease could be spread through tourists coming from Australia or Indian born Australians coming to the country on holidays. They might have brought this virus here.”

“We have also approached the Department of Biotechnology for a screening study of mosquitoes. Collection, identification of mosquitoes and sample to be subjected for isolation of virus will be done by our department. We will develop a finger print by separating the protein of virus,” the scientist said.