NEW DELHI, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- More than 40 people have died of a hepatitis-B outbreak since early this month in the western Indian state of Gujarat, mainly because some local doctors reused syringes when treating patients, said local NDTV television network Saturday.

    The TV network also said eight people have been filed with criminal charges for suspected medical negligence or re-using syringes which could have been infected with the virus.

    Twenty-eight people were admitted to hospitals on Friday, increasing the number of such patients to 108, said the TV report, adding that the central government is sending two medical teams to Modasa, the town worst hit by the outbreak, to help control the situation.

    The Times of India newspaper reported in its online edition Saturday that five doctors have been arrested and students staying in a government engineering college hostel there have vacated their classrooms and left for home.

    Officials of the food and drugs department also raided pharmacies and chemists shops to find out if they were selling expired rugs and reused surgical accessories, said the newspaper.