hospitalized patients
Heavy rains in Gujarat’s Kutch district have worsened the mysterious fever that has spread in the region. Reports suggest that more than 15 people have died in Lakhpat and Abdasa talukas due to this unknown disease. The situation has raised a lot of concern among the authorities in Gujarat. Health officials and district health commissioners are monitoring the matter to investigate the matter. Samples of suspected cases have been sent to Pune for testing to gather more information about the unknown disease and improve the health situation.
Health Minister will visit Lakhpat village
In view of the increasing number of cases, Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel will visit Lakhpat village to assess the situation. Along with this, he will hold a meeting with the officials of the Health Department to bring the situation under control. He will also be accompanied by Minister of State for Education and Kutch District In-charge Praful Panseria in this meeting. Both of them together will do a detailed review of suspected fever cases in Lakhpat and Abdasa taluka.
Expressing concern, Minister Panseria said, “The increasing number of fever cases has become a serious issue. We will take immediate action. We will visit the affected areas and assess the health conditions of the people.” The Health Minister also held a review meeting with the Kutch district administration to discuss the current situation and control the outbreak.
All the deceased belong to Jat Maldhari tribe
The symptoms of this fever resemble pneumonitis, yet the Rapid Response Team is investigating further to find out the exact cause of the deaths. The Animal Husbandry Department has ruled out the possibility of any zoonotic disease (which spreads from animals to humans), although all the deceased belonged to the Jat Maldhari tribe, a pastoral community living in the dry areas of Gujarat.
The Gujarat government has requested the National Institute of Virology (NIV) to test the samples for a variety of pathogens, including Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), scrub typhus, Chandipura vesiculovirus (CHPV), Japanese encephalitis and even plague.
Infectious disease outbreak?
The health department has ruled out the possibility of an infectious disease outbreak as no cases of infection have been found in multiple people simultaneously. Of the 27 contacts and symptomatic individuals identified in the health survey, the Rapid Response Team has found only two cases of falciparum malaria, two cases of swine flu and one case of dengue. (With IANS inputs)
