Jamshedpur, Dec. 8: A mystery fever accompanied by severe joint pain has gripped 80-odd residents of New Cable Colony for the past few days. But the civil surgeon said that “evidence is required before investigating the cause of the disease”.

Civil surgeon Deepali Dey, however, could not spell out what proof the government needed to confirm the disease. “Why should I believe that such a disease is spreading in the locality? You first provide me with evidences, then only we will conduct an investigation in the area. We do not probe without proper evidence,” she told reporters.

But local doctor B.B. Mahato, who had treated at least 24 such cases recently, said: “The bacterial and virology culture has failed to provide any clue about the disease. I am just prescribing normal painkillers, antibiotic and medicine for keeping the fever under control. It is a mystery why only a small portion of the township is affected.”

He added that a medical organisation or the district administration should initiate investigation to determine the exact cause of the disease and what it is. The patients, who had fallen prey to the disease till now, complained of high fever accompanied by severe joint pain leading to swelling in some cases. According to residents, all the houses have a couple of such patients and the disease is slowly spreading in the entire locality.

Ajay Tiwari, a resident, said dwellers of Peepal Road, Neem Road, Seesam Road, Jarul Road and Tamarind Road are worst effected. “The disease is accompanied by high fever and there is a severe joint pain. The first four days of the disease is a horrible experience and patients require support for even moving around in a room. Two of my daughters are still lying ill at home. Even the doctors have failed to identify the disease till now,” added Tiwari.