4 more children die of suspected Chandipura virus: death toll reaches 19

Health worker in protective clothing spreading medicine around the house to prevent disease.

So far, 5 suspected patients have died in Rajkot district itself. Among them, Rashi Pradeep Sahariya of Morbi was admitted to Rajkot Civil on July 12, who died on July 14. 2-year-old Pradeep Govindbhai Rathod of Hardamtia of Paddhari was admitted on July 9 and died on July 15.

Kalu Champulal, 8, of Humaya village in Jetpur was admitted on July 15 and died the same day. Sujakumar Dhankan, 13, of Madhya Pradesh was admitted on July 16 and died the same day. While Hrithik Rajaram Mukhiya, 3, was admitted on July 14 and died on July 17.

The girl died of the virus on 6 July

On 6th July, a 4 year old girl died during treatment in Lalpuri village of Ghoghamba in Panchmahal. The girl’s report came yesterday, which confirmed that she was infected with Chandipura virus. After the report came, the district health team including DDO and health workers reached Kotda village. Necessary medicine has been sprayed in all the houses.

6 deaths due to suspected virus in Himmatnagar
In this regard, Assistant RMO of Himmatnagar Civil Hospital, Dr. Vipul Jani told in a telephonic conversation that from June 27 till now, 8 cases of children suspected of Chandipura virus from Rajasthan, Aravalli and Sabarkantha districts had come to Himmatnagar Civil Hospital, out of which 6 children have died.

Two children are undergoing treatment and they have reportedly recovered. So far, 13 suspected cases of Chandipura virus have been reported across the state, out of which 5 patients are undergoing treatment.

What is Chandipura virus?

The first case of this virus was reported in 1965 in Chandipur in Nagpur district of Maharashtra. Some areas of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh were affected by this virus. The patient becomes a victim of brain fever (encephalitis) due to the virus. The virus spreads through the bites of mosquitoes and flies.

Who can the virus infect?
Chandipura virus particularly targets children. It mainly affects children between 9 months and 14 years of age. The infection spreads when the virus reaches the blood through the saliva of a fly or mosquito bite. This causes high fever and headache in children. Cases of this virus are reported every year in Gujarat.

In 2010 also 29 cases were reported

PN of Rockefeller Foundation’s Virus Research Center in Pune, established in 1952, says – Chandipura virus has been wreaking havoc in Gujarat since 2004. Bhatt and F.M. In 1966, a scientist named Rodriguez identified Chandipura virus. In the year 2010 also, 29 cases of Chandipura virus were reported in Gujarat, in which 17 children were infected. During that time, a 5-year-old girl died due to this. In the year 2010 also, the effect of this virus was seen in Kheda, Vadodara and Panchmahal of Central Gujarat.