Tests reveal young girl succumbed to Chandipura virus

Vadodara: Nearly a fortnight after a five-year-old girl died, her blood tests have confirmed that she succumbed to Chandipura virus.
This is first death due to the virus reported in the city this season. The
The girl, who was admitted in a critical condition due to suspected viral encephalitis, had died on June 30. District health officials who had sent the girl’s blood samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune received the results of the samples that were positive on Saturday.
The girl fell ill on the night of June 28 after which she was shifted to Gotri Medical College where she was admitted in ICU for two days.
According to health officials, the girl was feeling better but late on June 30, she passed away. Her blood samples were taken on June 28 and were sent for tests. “We received the report on July 13,” said chief district health officer Dr Uday Tilawat.
Initially, there was confusion as the patient’s address was mentioned as Tandalja in the hospital records. “While we had started preventive actions at Tandalja, the address later came out to be Bhayli area. There too we have carried out all preventive measures as per protocol,” he said.
“We have conducted extensive surveillance in the areas and collected sandfly samples,” he said, adding that there is no need to panic as the disease is being monitored closely.
The disease spreads because of bite of the sandfly, which is found in houses built with mud and sand.