Following the chandipura virus outbreak in Gujrat, the neighbouring state Maharashtra has been declared on alert by the health officials. A health advisory for the same has been issued to all zilla parishads, district hospitals and Municipal corporations.
All officials are also advised to strengthen the health-related surveillance and studies to know more about the new disease. Sensitive and disease prone areas of the state are required to be constantly monitors while adequate steps like insect spraying to be done on a regular basis.
The joint director of health services Dr. Pawar says, “Officials need to arrange for timely surveys in virus prone areas of the state. Similar actions can be extended to other areas.”
Chandipura is reported to affect children under 15 mostly. Therefore, special care for small children need to be taken. Under the health advisory it is mentioned that if children under 15 feel the symptoms of chandipura they should be immediately rushed to the nearby medical health facility. Apart from this infection, blood samples are also being tested for Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Dengue and Chikanguniya as all of them are prevalent in this particular weather and are transmitted by insect bite.
The health advisory stated the ways to prevent Chandipura by maintaining cleanliness. Cow dung should be kept away from houses while proper insect spraying to be done in villages prone to illness. Cattle farms need to be constructed at a distance from habitation with at-least 4 feet wall to prevent contamination.
“Adequate stock of medicines should be arranged by district hospitals and clinics to ensure a smooth recovery. Detailed training must be given to the local doctors about Chandipura. Along with treatment, preventive measures like creating awareness about the infection must be done by state to people in villages. They should be explained the symptoms, causes and treatment of the illness.’- Dr. Pawar states. If required the bed strengths in hospitals may be increased according to reports.
This new virus comes after the currently on going Zika virus in Maharashtra. The state being close to water on its borders make a sensitive area for diseases. Specially in monsoon when illnesses are on the peak.
Why does Chandipura affect specifically children?
According to doctors, virus may affect children more as they have a week immune system. Thus, they may not be able to fight off infections as efficiently as an adult. Reports says that 15 deaths out of total are of children which is a alarming figure. Another factor is that children mostly remain outdoors to play thus susceptible to diseases. Progression of the symptoms may be higher in children with increased fatality rates.
About Chandipura: symptoms and preventions
Chandipura is the name of the village in Maharashtra from where the virus originated. The virus comes from the same family of rabies disease. It spreads through sandflies and mosquitoes just like dengue and resides in salivary glands of mosquitos.
This virus can have a fetal toll on the neuro health of the affected person inflaming the brain tissue. Fatality rate is as high as 40 percent. The person can feel symptoms like:
- Nausea
- Headache
- Feaver
- Seizures
- Mental confusion or imbalance
At present, no vaccine or treatment is readily available in the medical industry. Thus, officials are stressing on the importance of prevention for Chandipura. People can stress on cleanliness and do regular pest control in their houses are nighbourhood. Another major factor is fast remedy. Whenever you feel these symptoms you should visit medical facility and get tested. Awareness of the illness remains a key in the fight against the virus. Villages which are extremely sensitive to Chandipura, should have necessary awareness drives and preventive drives.
