The Gujarat government has mobilised specialist doctors and 50 medical teams across seven villages in the Kutch district after an undiagnosed fever claimed 11 lives within a week, Health Minister Rushikesh Patel announced on Wednesday.
Following a review meeting in Bhuj, Patel revealed that 48 new cases of fever had been detected in the affected villages of Lakhpat and Abdasa talukas. The deaths, which occurred between September 3 and 10, included four children.
In response to the escalating health crisis, 100 isolation beds and 30 ventilators, along with BiPAP machines, have been readied at Adani G K General Hospital in Bhuj. “We have also deployed a cardiologist and two expert physicians, in addition to 50 medical teams led by MBBS doctors, to ensure early diagnosis and treatment,” Patel stated.
Emergency services have been strengthened with the deployment of ambulances from the ‘108 service’ to transport patients to the designated hospital, where sufficient medical arrangements are in place.
To identify the cause of the fever and the associated deaths, samples from infected patients have been sent to the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) in Gandhinagar and the National Institute of Virology in Pune. “We are working to pinpoint the exact cause of this illness,” Patel added.
The minister urged locals to seek medical attention at the earliest sign of symptoms, as the fever has been found to become severe within 5 to 7 days. “Those who died may have delayed consulting a doctor. I strongly advise the people of Kutch not to ignore any symptoms and seek immediate medical attention,” he said.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the cause of the fever, Patel assured that the situation remains under control, emphasizing that, unlike COVID-19, there is no outbreak. Screening and surveillance efforts, carried out by 45 medical teams, continue in the affected areas