Four children have died and two othe💮rs are undergoing treatment in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha district for suspected infection of Chandipura virus, an official said Saturday.
The two children a🐻re being treated at the civil hospital at Himmatnagar in the district.
Chandipura virus is a rare and potentially deadly pathogen that causes fever, flu-like🦄 symptoms, and acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
The virus is transmitted through vectors like mosquito𒊎es, ticks, and sandflies, and can lead to rapid progression of illness, coma, and even death.
Blood samples of all s൩ix kids have been sent to the National In🔯stitute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for confirmation and their results are awaited, Sabarkantha Chief District Health Officer Raj Sutariya said.
Paediatricians💮 at the Himmatnagar civil hospital had suspected the role of the Chandipura virus ꦆafter four children died there on July 10, he said.
Two other children admitted to the hospital have💃 displayed similar symptoms. They also seem🌼 to be infected by the same virus, Sutariya said.
Of the four children who have died so far, one was from Sabarkantha district and two were from neꦡighbouring Aravalli district. The fourth child hailed from Rajasthan.
The t꧒wo children being treated at the h♏ospital are also from Rajasthan, he said.
The authorities in Rajasthan have been informed about the death of the child due to the suspected vi𓆏ral infection, Sutariya said.
“We have sent all six samples, including those of four childr༺en who have𝄹 died, to NIV in Pune,” he added.
To curb the infection, the district authori🌊ties have deployed teams to conduct preventive measures, including dusting to kill sandflies in affected areas,⛄ officials said.
(With PTI Inputs)
