A suspected viral fever has spread in Lakhpat taluka of Kutch district in Gujarat, which has killed 15 people. Meanwhile, state cabinet ministers Rishikesh Patel and Praful Panseria visited the area to assess the situation. Kutch Collector Amit Arora shared the details of the meeting. He said, ‘The ministers took stock of the situation in Lakhpat village. They also directed what steps should be taken as a precaution… They also had a detailed discussion with viral experts from Ahmedabad… We will be able to say anything further only after receiving the report from NIB Pune.’
Minister Praful Panseria said that the state government is taking necessary measures on a war footing and samples of fever victims have been collected and sent to NIB Pune. He wrote on the x, ‘Regarding suspected viral fever cases in Lakhpat and Abdasa taluka. Health Minister Rushikesh Patel and senior officials of the health department along with the collector of Kutch district received preliminary information on the current situation, gave necessary guidance to the administration regarding measures to prevent the disease.’
The minister further said, ‘Suspected fever cases in Kutch district have been brought to the notice of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The system has taken necessary measures to work on a war footing. In the areas where suspected fever cases have been reported, the health department team has taken samples and sprayed medicines.’ Earlier, Kutch Collector Amit Arora gave an update on suspected fever cases in Lakhpat and Abdasa tehsils. He said, ‘More than 22 health teams are doing screening in Lakhpat and Abdasa. There is no clustering of any kind in the deaths that have occurred. Therefore, prima facie it seems that this is not an infectious disease. But in the cases that have come, every possible precaution is being taken with full vigilance.’
The collector said that four additional doctors have been appointed in Lakhpat and Abdasa who are handling screening and OPD work. A total of 26 samples were taken, out of which 11 were tested and swine flu was not confirmed in all. Dengue has been confirmed in one case and malaria in two cases in Bhenkara village. It may be noted that 15 people including six children have died due to suspected viral fever and pneumonia within four days in Lakhpat and Abdasa taluka of Gujarat.
