Chandipura virus outbreak: Health Minister J P Nadda informed the Rajya Sabha Tuesday out of the 53 confirmed cases of Chandipura virus, 51 cases were detected in Gujarat and two were detected in Rajasthan.
In a written response to a question, Nadda said that of these 53 cases of Chandipura virus, 19 people have died and all deaths have been reported from Gujarat. Meanwhile, the latest bulletin from the Gujarat government released late on Tuesday, the number of positive Chandipura virus cases have gone up to 59. The total number of viral encephalitis cases have gone up to 159 with a death toll of 71.
Nadda also said that National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) has been deployed to assist the Gujarat government for undertaking public health measures and for detailed epidemiological investigation into the outbreak.
Experts from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program, National Centre for Disease Control, Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology Pune are part of the NJORT, Nadda said.
A team from the NCDC, Delhi, and ICMR NIV Pune is undertaking an epidemiological investigation into the Acute Encephalitis cases and related deaths. According to the PTI report, entomologists from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are stationed at the affected areas for undertaking entomological investigation to ascertain the vector involved in transmission of CHPV to human beings.
Health rapid response teams and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and Auxiliary Nurse and Midwives (ANM) have conducted active surveillance for early identification of cases and timely referral of suspected cases to the nearby hospitals and medical colleges which are offering 24 hours specialist services and ventilator support.
Nadda said indoor residual spraying for control of the vector (sandfly) has been intensified in the areas from which cases have been reported and covers adjoining areas.
The Health Minister also informed that a joint advisory has been issued by the NCDC and National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC). The purpose of the advisory is to ensure proper vector control measures are taken by state governments, Nadda informed.