Rajasthan: Medical Department on High Alert in Udaipur district for Chandipura Virus Prevention

Udaipur- The medical department is on high alert to prevent and safeguard against the Chandipura virus in the district. Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr. Shankar H. Bamnia toured the areas of Kherwada and Nayagaon, which are near the Gujarat border and have been declared high alert zones due to the virus. During his visit, he inspected medical institutions and issued necessary directives.

Following reports of children's deaths in Gujarat due to the Chandipura virus, Kherwada and Nayagaon areas in Udaipur, adjacent to the Gujarat border, were declared high alert zones. There were suspicions of the virus in two children in these areas, with one child’s death reported. However, the virus was not detected in the blood test report of the child from Rajasthan.

As a precaution, an alert has been issued in the villages of Kherwada and Nayagaon near the Gujarat border. On Thursday, CMHO Dr. Bamnia visited these areas and observed activities like anti-adult, anti-larval, and source reduction efforts using Temephos and MLO by health workers. Dr. Bamnia was accompanied by Kherwada BCMO Dr. Arun Meena, Nayagaon BCMO Dr. Nikunj Kalasua, and other related staff members.

Dr. Bamnia visited Ratda village in the Patia sector of Nayagaon, meeting residents door-to-door. He assessed the activities carried out by the medical department and gathered information about anti-larva and source reduction from ANMs and Asha workers.

He inspected areas where MLO and Temephos had been sprayed. He instructed that no health worker should be granted leave and that all staff should remain at headquarters. Blood slides of all patients should be prepared, and higher authorities should be informed immediately if symptoms of the virus are detected.

During an unannounced inspection of the CHC Rishabhdev, Dr. Bamnia reviewed the postnatal ward, checked the availability of meals under the Kaleva scheme, and ensured timely vaccination of newborns with birth doses.

Upon learning that the work was affected due to the transfer of the permanent lab technician, he reinstated the previously assigned lab technician. He also instructed to hold the RMRS meeting soon. During the inspection of CHC Kherwada, he directed efforts to increase institutional deliveries, work on NCD, and create Ayushman Chiranjivi cards under eKYC.