How to keep children safe? 5 tips
There is a huge increase in Chandipura virus patients in Gujarat. It mainly affects children and more than six children have died.
Chandipura virus is a deadly infection that can lead to coma and death if not treated on time. Currently, the number of children in the state of Gujarat is on the rise and reports of deaths are also being reported. With two more deaths reported in the state, the death toll so far has risen to eight, Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said. Addressing the public on Monday, Patel said, “Chandipura virus cases have come up in many places in the state. There is no need to panic but one needs to be careful. Chandipura is not a new virus. The first case was registered in Maharashtra in 1965. Cases of this virus are reported every year in Gujarat. The disease is caused by the bite of a vector-infected sandfly and mainly affects children aged 9 months to 14 years. It is more visible in rural areas.”
However, recruitment of our health guards is the need of the hour. Monsoon has its own set of seasonal viruses and bacteria like dengue, malaria etc.
Chandipura virus transmission
irus us is a member of the genus Vesiculovirus in the family Rhabdoviridae. Chandipura viral encephalitis (CHPV) is named after Chandipura district in Maharashtra where the first outbreak was reported. According to the state health minister, “the disease is not contagious.”
How to protect children from Chandipura virus?
A safety net against contracting any virus cannot be guaranteed, but what we can do is maintain a healthy and clean environment and minimize the risk of infection as much as possible.
- Area clean: Chandipura virus is mostly transmitted by sand flies, which breed in garbage, small and dirty places. Therefore, it is necessary to keep the surrounding area clean. Avoid waterlogging. Keep children away from dustbins in public places.
- Complete Outerwear: This is another important step that is often overlooked and underestimated. It is important to wear light clothing that covers the body completely. This will help reduce the risk of infection from sand fly or mosquito bites, especially when the virus is spreading like wildfire.
- Insect Repellent: Insecticide sprays can help eliminate the vector, experts said, and called for efforts to prevent the spread of the virus by controlling sandfish populations.
- Bed Net: Another health strategy is to use insect repellants and bed nets while sleeping.
- Healthy Lifestyle: A nutrient-dense diet that helps boost the immune system is also essential for fighting off pathogens.
Cases have been reported from Sabarkantha, Aravali, Mahisagar, Kheda, Mehsana and Rajkot districts, the minister said.
Three cases from neighboring states — two from Rajasthan and one from Madhya Pradesh — have also been treated at Gujarat hospitals, Patel said. One in two patients die in Rajasthan, he said, adding, “This disease has a high mortality rate and if treatment is delayed, it is difficult for the patient to survive,” he said.
More than 44,000 people have been screened in 8,600 houses in 26 residential zones as a precautionary measure, he said.
