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Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, in the presence of Health Minister Rishikesh Patel, conducted a high-level review of the intensive disease prevention and control measures taken by the health system in relation to suspected cases of viral encephalitis virus (Chandipura virus) in the state. So far 33 suspected cases of Chandipura virus have been reported in the state. Samples of which were sent to the Pune lab for testing. Out of which the report of a child in Aravalli has come positive.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held a video conference with District Collectors, District Development Officers, Municipal Commissioners and Chief District Health Officers in Gujarat to obtain information about the treatment, management, surveillance operations, disease prevention measures and curative cases of suspected cases of this viral encephalitis virus in their districts.
The first case of this suspected viral encephalitis virus was found in a patient from Udaipur, Rajasthan, admitted to Himmatnagar Medical College, Gujarat on 27 June. Currently, as of 18 July 2024, a total of 33 suspected cases of viral encephalitis have been found in the state, out of which 30 are from Gujarat state. In which a total of 16 deaths have been reported.
Out of the total cases of viral encephalitis in the state of Gujarat, 7 cases are from Sabarkantha, 4 from Aravalli, 1 from Mahisagar, 1 from Kheda, 2 from Mehsana, 2 from Rajkot, 2 from Surendranagar, 1 from Ahmedabad, 2 from Gandhinagar, 2 from Panchmahal, 2 from Jamnagar, 3 from Morbi and 1 from Gandhinagar Corporation. Out of these, 1 case is found positive in Aravalli. Apart from this, 2 patients from Sabarkantha, 3 from Aravalli, 1 from Mahisagar, 1 from Mehsana, 2 from Rajkot, 1 from Surendranagar, 1 from Ahmedabad, 2 from Gandhinagar and 2 from Morbi have died.
All these samples were sent to Pune for confirmation of Chandipura virus. Results of 7 samples have come, out of which 6 samples are negative for Chandipura virus and only one sample is positive.
The review meeting also informed that the state health system has initiated intensive measures for vector control and prevention of Chandipura and viral encephalitis.
According to which, a total of 56,651 people were monitored in 11,050 houses by 260 teams. Malathion powder has been sprayed in 4838 kutcha houses and cattle shed areas to prevent the disease. Malathion powder has been made available in sufficient quantity in the districts. However, he has suggested the health system to make necessary arrangements.
CM Bhupendra Patel urged to ensure arrangements for taking samples of suspected patients of viral encephalitis virus admitted in all the district hospitals and medical colleges of the state and sending them immediately to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for examination. Not only this, it was also suggested to make immediate arrangements for proper treatment for such suspected patients in the concerned hospitals.
Health Minister Rishikesh Patel in this video conference review meeting asked the Chief District Health Officers to investigate each case through the Rapid Response Team.
He said that the cases of Aravalli and Sabarkantha have been investigated through face-to-face visits by the state level rapid response team. He expressed readiness to send this state level team to other districts as well if required.
The Health Minister said that a helpline number 104 is also being started by the Health Department for treatment related information in all cases of viral encephalitis.
As per the doctors' diagnosis, the initial findings have revealed a case of viral encephalitis in the present case, the symptoms of which are similar to Chandipur. Hence, the minister requested that the patient with primary symptoms of this virus should be admitted to a medical college or district level hospital for proper treatment.
It was also suggested to spray insecticides and Melithan medicines in all the talukas and potentially affected areas of the state. Along with this, the aspiring sisters asked the health team at the local level to make efforts to create awareness about this disease. They also said that all the arrangements including ventilators, oxygen in all the hospitals from the district hospital are sufficient for the patients infected with this disease.
