Banaskantha, Jul 21 (PTI) A two-year-old girl from Rajasthan’s Sirohi district died while undergoing treatment for Chandipura virus infection at a hospital in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, a health official said on Tuesday.
Health Minister Praful Pansheriya has said that 63 suspected cases of virus have been reported so far (this year) in Gujarat, out of which 12 were positive while eight of the patients have lost their lives.
Medical superintendent of the Banas Medical College and Research Institute Dr Sunil Joshi said on Tuesday that the girl from Rajasthan was brought to the hospital on July 13 in a critical condition, and she tested positive for Chandipura virus the following day.
The toddler was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, where she received treatment for six days. However, she succumbed to the disease on July 19, he said.
Talking to reporters on Monday, minister Pansheriya said, “So far, a total of 63 suspected cases of Chandipura virus have been reported in the state. Out of these, 12 patients have tested positive. These include 9 cases from Gujarat and 3 cases from Rajasthan.” Eight patients have died so far, he said.
Chandipura virus infection can cause encephalitis, or inflammation of brain tissue, along with symptoms such as high fever, seizures, vomiting, diarrhoea, unconsciousness, and, in severe cases, organ failure, Joshi noted.
The Gujarat government on Monday confirmed that 12 patients tested positive for Chandipura Virus.
“Out of the samples collected from the total 63 suspected cases, test results of 55 samples have been received, while results of the remaining eight samples are still awaited,” a release stated.
A review meeting was held under the chairmanship of Pansheriya on Monday regarding the geographical status of cases reported in various districts of the state, reasons behind the spread of the virus, laboratory testing, and steps undertaken by the administrative machinery.
Currently, among the reported positive cases, two each have been reported from Panchmahal and Kheda districts of Gujarat, while one case each has been reported from Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Bharuch, Bhavnagar and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation areas, Pansheriya was quoted as saying in the release.
In the meeting, Pansheriya said that after cases are reported from any particular area, it is essential to maintain intensive surveillance in that pocket.
The minister gave clear instructions to officials to conduct a detailed investigation of patients’ travel history and case history to understand the source of virus transmission.
Extensive health screening has been carried out covering thousands of houses, including both kutcha and pucca houses, in the affected areas, the release said.
Dusting is being carried out on a war footing in kutcha houses and areas around cattle sheds for the control of sandflies and insects considered carriers of this virus, it added.
Adequate arrangements of ICU beds for children, essential medicines, and ventilators have been ensured at civil hospitals and super-speciality hospitals at all district headquarters.
The minister stated that generally, higher activity of this virus is observed during the monsoon season and up to September.
As this virus primarily affects young children, if any child develops symptoms such as sudden high fever, seizures, vomiting-diarrhoea, or loss of consciousness, parents should immediately contact the nearest government hospital or paediatrician without wasting any time, the release said.
The administration is fully alert, said Pansheriya, adding that citizens should not panic and remain cautious. PTI KVM PD NP
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