One of the biggest epidemics of Hepatitis B in India occurred in February-March 2009. The centre of the outbreak was Modasa taluka in Sabarkantha district, Gujarat. Within a few weeks, nearly 240 people were reported to have been affected by Hepatitis B and over 70 succumbed to the disease. The National Institute of Virology in Pune identified the disease to be due to a particularly virulent mutant. Statements issued by health department officials pointed to the use of recycled and unsterilised syringes and injection needles as the means of transmission of the infection.