Surat, July 11 (IANS). The state government has increased vigilance regarding Chandipura virus cases in Gujarat. State Minister Prafulla Pansheriya told IANS on Saturday that till now 17 suspected cases had been identified among children, which were investigated. Of these, reports of 10 children came negative, while Chandipura virus infection has been confirmed in six children. Treatment of all infected children is continuing.
The minister said, “During the last 10 days, three children have died in Chandipura virus-related cases. Another child is admitted in a hospital in Vadnagar and his condition is said to be stable at present. The health department is constantly monitoring all the patients and is providing them better medical care.”
Prafulla Pansheriya said, “The state government is taking this disease seriously. Even in the year 2024, an outbreak of Chandipura virus was seen in 61 villages of Gujarat. At that time too, the health department had conducted a comprehensive survey in the affected villages, sprayed medicine and taken many precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the infection.”
He said, “This time also the Health Department has instructed all the hospitals that if any child shows symptoms similar to Chandipura virus, then he should be immediately examined. Effective control of the disease is possible with timely examination and treatment.”
The minister appealed to the people, “There is no need to panic about this virus, but it is very important to remain alert. Health teams of the state government are monitoring the situation by going from village to village and constant monitoring is being done in potentially infected areas.”
He expressed hope that the treatment of the six infected children would be successful and they would soon recover and return home.
Prafulla Pansheriya said that a small fly called ‘sand fly’ is believed to play a role in the spread of Chandipura virus. This fly often grows in places like mud houses, soil and cracks in walls. In view of this, the Health Department is spraying pesticides in the affected areas and people are being advised to maintain cleanliness and not allow dirt and moisture to remain around their homes.
–IANS
SCH/DKP
