On July 16, two more children died in, Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat because of the Chandipura virus. The number has gone up to 14 people, including 4 children who lost their lives due to the virus.
Rushikesh Patel, Health Minister addressed the issue on Tuesday and gave the record of fatalities in Gujarat. He also mentioned that the people being treated in the hospital are not only from Gujarat but from the neighboring states- Rajasthan (2) and Madhya Pradesh (1). One patient has been reported dead.
Mr. Patel emphasized on the measures taken by the health department, initiatives from medical colleges and health research departments have emerged to scrutinize the Chandipura virus and its symptoms.
The state health department has decided to keep intensive surveillance over the affected districts. Primary health centers are on alert, especially on virus-prone zones. An advisory council has been issued for the community.
The research shows that the outbreak witnessed by the central part of the nation in 2003-2004 had typical symptoms of encephalitis causing inflammation in the brain which is similar to the current virus, Chandipura. It is transmitted through mosquitoes. It belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family of genus virus. Back then it increased the fatality rates from 56-75% in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, the current prediction is not yet on record.
The first inspected case according to CDHO was in Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat. The boy had same symptoms of encephalitis and was taken to a health center in Palundra. According to the health department, the samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology for further research.
The SSG hospital, Vadodara admitted another girl on Tuesday, a four-year-old who has symptoms of flu-like vomiting, fever, and low immunity. The case was from Bariya Faliyu in Godhra.
The state has taken a pledge to keep the situation under control as its spread might cause danger for people with an increase in the number of cases. The disease should be taken seriously and all the preventive measures to be taken are advised by the doctors.