Chandipura Scare Hits Jamnagar and Dwarka As Virus Spreads Further Across Gujarat

The suspected outbreak of the Chandipura virus has spread to the Saurashtra region, putting local health departments on high alert. After a rise in cases across North and Central Gujarat, Jamnagar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts have now reported suspected cases amongst children, sparking immediate containment measures by local authorities.

Three Children Critical at G G Hospital

The local health administration intensified its efforts after two children from Jamnagar city were hospitalised with severe symptoms. One child belongs to the Ganpatnagar area in Ward No. 6, whilst the second is from the Ravi Park locality on Dhinchda Road.

Shortly after these two cases emerged, a third child suffering from similar symptoms was rushed from neighbouring Devbhumi Dwarka district to the government-run Guru Gobind Singh (G.G.) Hospital in Jamnagar.

This brings the total number of suspected Chandipura virus patients at G.G. Hospital to three. All three children suffered from sudden high fever, continuous vomiting, and severe convulsions. Due to their critical condition, they have been admitted to a special isolation unit within the paediatric ICU. A team of doctors is monitoring them constantly, and their blood samples have been sent to the laboratory for official confirmation.

Spread Across Other Gujarat Districts

The virus has been reported in several other parts of Gujarat over the past few weeks, prompting the state health department to monitor the situation closely:

• Sabarkantha and Banaskantha: The initial cases were flagged in North Gujarat, including a child from neighbouring Rajasthan who was brought there for treatment.

• Panchmahal and Dahod: Several suspected cases and child deaths have been reported from Godhra and surrounding rural areas. Major regional centres, including Vadodara’s SSG Hospital, have kept paediatric beds and equipment ready for emergencies.

• Kheda, Mahisagar, and Aravalli: Health teams have started door-to-door surveys in these districts to check for children suffering from sudden high fever and brain inflammation.

Disease Transmission and Symptoms

The Chandipura virus is carried by sandflies and ticks, which breed rapidly during the monsoon season. It mostly affects children under the age of 14. The infection progresses very quickly, attacking the nervous system and causing brain swelling, high fever, and unconsciousness within 24 to 48 hours.

Government Actions and Advisory

Following the new cases in Jamnagar and Dwarka, municipal and district health teams have started spraying Malathion powder and carrying out fogging operations in the affected neighbourhoods to eliminate sandfly breeding spots.

Medical authorities have instructed local clinics and private paediatricians to immediately refer any child showing symptoms of high fever and seizures to larger government hospitals, as immediate treatment is necessary.

Parents are advised to make sure children wear clothes that cover their arms and legs, use insect repellents, and fill up any cracks in household walls where sandflies usually hide.