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Rajasthan – The Rajasthan Health Department has issued an urgent advisory after a child tested positive for the Chandipura virus in the Dungarpur district. The advisory outlines a series of stringent measures to control and prevent the spread of the virus.
Dr. Ravi Prakash Mathur, Director of the Health Department, confirmed the case and emphasized the importance of immediate action. “One case was reported in Dungarpur. Instructions have been given to officials to work to control the disease by following the guidelines issued by the Health Department,” he stated.
The advisory directs that any person exhibiting symptoms of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) or testing positive for the Chandipura virus should be promptly admitted to the nearest district hospital. This measure aims to ensure rapid medical intervention and reduce the risk of virus transmission.
Key steps outlined in the advisory include:
- Contact Tracing and Testing: Samples from individuals who had contact with the patient are to be collected and sent to Pune for testing. This includes taking samples from any pets in the household, which will be handled by the Animal Husbandry Department.
- House-to-House Survey: Health workers are instructed to conduct thorough house-to-house surveys to identify any suspicious cases. Any suspected patient identified during the survey will have their samples collected by a microbiology team from the nearest medical college and sent to the Pune lab for confirmation.
- Vector Control Measures: The advisory calls for extensive fogging to eliminate mosquitoes and flies, particularly in the border districts adjacent to Gujarat. Additionally, DDT spraying around residential areas and cattle sheds is mandated to reduce the vector population. Municipal corporations and municipalities have been instructed to carry out these activities.
- Environmental Management: The advisory also emphasizes the removal of weeds around houses to minimize habitats for mosquitoes and other vectors.
These measures aim to prevent an outbreak and protect public health. The Health Department is working in coordination with various agencies to ensure these instructions are implemented swiftly and effectively.
The Chandipura virus, known to cause Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, poses a significant health risk, particularly to children. The Rajasthan Health Department urges residents to follow the guidelines and report any symptoms immediately to local health authorities.
For more information and updates, residents are encouraged to stay in touch with local health officials and follow advisories issued by the Health Department.
