Chandipura virus cases

The Chandipura virus, or viral encephalitis, is gradually setting its foot in Gujarat, as 13 new cases were reported in the state, bringing the total number of cases to 84. Of these, nine cases were confirmed positive, while the sample results for the rest are awaited.

In addition, five more deaths were suspected in the state, taking the death toll of suspected cases to 32.

Of the 13 new cases, two were reported from the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) region, Aravalli, Banaskantha, and one each from Surendranagar, the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) region, Kheda, Mehsana, Narmada, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) region, and the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) region.

Moreover, of the five patients who died across the state on July 21, two were from Banaskantha and one each from Mahisagar, Kheda, and Vadodara.

Currently, 46 patients with viral encephalitis are undergoing treatment, and one has been discharged.

Given the spiking cases, the State Health Department has surveyed a total of 18,729 houses. Around 1.16 lakh kachcha houses are also dusted with malathion insecticide powder.

A 12-year-old girl from Surat’s Sachin area, suspected of catching the Chandipura virus, was admitted to the New Civil Hospital.

Meanwhile, a child succumbed to the virus at Ahmedabad’s Asarwa Civil Hospital. The girl, originally from Palanpur, was first admitted to a government hospital and then shifted to a private one. However, as her condition deteriorated with time, she was shifted to Ahmedabad.

Until now, six children have died of the virus in Ahmedabad’s Asarwa civil hospital, and currently, two are undergoing treatment. One child also had to be put on a ventilator.