Five Children Die in Suspected Chandipura Virus Outbreak, Massive Surveillance Launched
Salumbar (Rajasthan): A tragic cluster of child deaths in Rajasthan’s Salumbar district has raised serious public health concerns, with authorities suspecting a possible outbreak of viral encephalitis. Five young children from Ghata and Lalpura villages have died over the past few days under what officials described as “mysterious circumstances,” triggering an urgent outbreak response.
Common Symptoms Point to Encephalitis
According to district officials, all five children exhibited similar symptoms, including fever, vomiting, unconsciousness, and altered sensorium—clinical signs often associated with Viral Encephalitis.
Salumbar District Collector Muhammad Junaid stated that preliminary assessments by medical experts from Udaipur Medical College indicate suspected viral encephalitis. He added that one possible cause under consideration is the Chandipura Virus, although confirmation is awaited.
Samples have been sent to National Institute of Virology for final diagnosis.
Deaths During Treatment Delays Raise Concerns
Family members reported that the children initially developed fever and vomiting before their conditions rapidly deteriorated. They were first taken to nearby health centres and later referred to hospitals in Dhariyawad, Pratapgarh, and Udaipur.
In several cases, the children died while being transported to higher medical facilities. Officials noted that the remote location of the affected villages may have contributed to delays in accessing advanced treatment. Additionally, some families reportedly sought care from unauthorised practitioners initially, which may have worsened outcomes.
Intensive Surveillance Across Villages
In response to growing panic, the district administration has launched a large-scale surveillance and containment drive across affected areas.
Health teams have conducted door-to-door surveys in Ghata Gram Panchayat, covering its three revenue villages—Ghata, Lalpura, and Karnagarh. Out of 561 families, 528 have already been surveyed. Authorities have also collected blood samples, conducted anti-larval activities, and sent multiple samples for laboratory analysis.
Schools and Anganwadi centres in the region have also been included in the surveillance efforts to ensure early detection of symptoms among children.
Large-Scale Outbreak Control Measures in Udaipur Division
The Medical and Health Department has intensified outbreak control measures across all seven districts of the Udaipur division, including Salumbar.
More than 6,000 field teams have surveyed over 1.2 lakh households, identifying 1,470 individuals with symptoms. Of these, 924 were treated on the spot, while 85 patients were referred to higher centres for advanced care.
Authorities have also conducted awareness campaigns at over 13,000 locations and carried out anti-larval drives at more than 5,500 sites to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne infections.
Public Health Alert and Ongoing Investigation
Officials emphasised that investigations are ongoing, and the exact cause of the deaths will be confirmed only after laboratory reports from Pune are received.
Meanwhile, the administration has urged residents to seek immediate medical attention in case of symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or altered consciousness, as early intervention is critical in suspected encephalitis cases.
