JAIPUR: The health department and the Sirohi district administration have swung into action and rushed its teams from Jaipur and Jodhpur to Phulabai Kheda and Beraphali village in Pindwara block of Sirohi on Thursday where five children died due to a “mysterious disease” between April 10 and April 13. One child was rushed to a government hospital in Abu Road for treatment.
The children who did had died complained of fits (convulsions), vomiting, fever and stiffness in body. The deceased children did not have any prolonged history of disease. The sarpanch of the area informed the health officials and district administration about the deaths of the children.
“The medical team and doctors are suspecting that the cause of death could be viral encephalitis. However, they are yet to confirm it. The situation will be clear only after test reports come,” Sirohi collector Bhanwar Lal told TOI, adding that the five deceased children were in the age group of 10 to 15 years.
At least three of the children did not get proper treatment. On receiving information about the deaths of children on Wednesday evening, the health department’s teams from Jaipur and Jodhpur and also local health department officials rushed to the village for conducting door-to-door survey of the houses to identify if more such children are suffering from the same symptoms.
“The cause of the deaths of the children is yet to be identified. We are suspecting viral infection. We have collected samples of children from the same house where children had died and sample of a child who is undergoing treatment in a hospital in Abu Road. The samples have been sent to SMS Medical College in Jaipur and SN Medical College in Jodhpur. The situation is under control, the health department teams have conducted survey in the area whole day,” said Dr Rajesh Kumar, chief medical health officer, Sirohi.
According to health department, three children had died in Phulabai Kheda (two died on April 13 and one died on April 10) while at Beraphali area, two children died on April 10.
Dr Kumar said a paediatrician had been deployed in the area which covers a 4-km area to provide immediate treatment to children, if such cases are reported. The doctor will also report the higher authorities to ensure treatment of the child by referring him or her to higher centre.
