Ahmedabad: A month since the string of child deaths from Chandipura-linked acute encephalitis began, minister of state for health Praful Pansheriya on Monday said 22 deaths are suspected, with results for 11 samples still pending.“Of 184 suspected cases recorded so far, 35 have tested positive for the virus, and results for 11 samples are awaited. Seven confirmed cases are undergoing treatment at govt hospitals, while six patients have been discharged after recovery,” the minister said.Health department officials said children with suspected infections are admitted to hospitals in Gandhinagar, Himmatnagar, Patan, Rajkot and Bhavnagar.Pansheriya said no specific clusters have been identified in the outbreak so far, and health teams are working in areas from where cases have been reported. The department has also issued an advisory to identify sandfly breeding sites and ensure early detection of symptoms. “Timely admission to ICUs can reduce complications such as multi-organ failure in patients,” he said.The state has previously recorded more than 50 fatalities associated with Chandipura virus infection. This is the second major outbreak in three years. Experts said fatalities are higher among children because the infection can lead to acute encephalitis.Earlier research has indicated a possible mutation of the virus in the region and identified major hotspots, mostly in semi-urban and rural areas. Experts said sandflies, which transmit the virus, typically breed in cracks and crevices of mud houses.
