The State Health Department of Gujarat reported on Sunday that there were five fatalities and 13 new suspected cases of the Chandipura virus. The number of confirmed and suspected diseases in the state has increased to 84 with the most current additions, while the number of fatalities has increased to 32.
Aravalli (2), Banaskantha (2), Surendranagar (1), Gandhinagar (1), Kheda (1), Mehsana (1), Narmada (1), Vadodara (1), Rajkot (1), and Ahmedabad (2 infections) were among the places where new suspected cases were recorded.
The State Health Department released a statement identifying the five possible deaths related to the Chandipura virus: one each from Mahisagar, Kheda, and Vadodara, and two from Banaskantha.
According to the statement, the government has started a number of initiatives to reduce the viral infection spread by vectors like sandflies, ticks, and mosquitoes.
The National Institute of Virology (NIV), situated in Pune, verified nine Chandipura virus cases from Gujarat on Saturday.
The health department stated on Sunday that there were no newly confirmed cases in the state and that samples from all suspected cases had been forwarded to the NIV for testing.
Following the first Chandipura virus fatality in Gujarat on Wednesday, the state health department issued orders for daily local monitoring and supervision in an effort to identify possible infections and contain the disease.
According to the statement, workers from the health department have sprayed powder in 1.16 lakh homes in affected regions and performed surveillance in about 19,000 households.
It stated that people are encouraged to utilize personal safety gear and that a rapid reaction team is looking into each and every case.
The Chandipura virus causes fever, which resembles flu-like symptoms, as well as acute encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain. The pathogen belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family's Vesiculovirus genus. Vectors such as sandflies, ticks, and mosquitoes spread it.
In Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, where the epidemics occurred in 2003–2004, case fatality rates with typical encephalitic symptoms ranged from 56–75%.
Notably, on Friday, the cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and Chandipura virus in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh were assessed by experts and the Union Health Ministry.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Priyanka Pandey/MSM)