JAIPUR: Tests on samples from 20 children in Rajasthan’s Salumber district have come back negative for Japanese encephalitis and Chandipura virus, easing fears of an outbreak after seven child deaths were reported in Ghata village and nearby areas between April 1 and April 5.Some samples tested positive for malaria, while other children were diagnosed with diarrhoea or infections. Health officials said the exact cause of the seven deaths has not yet been confirmed.The health department said the children showed symptoms resembling encephalitis, including fever and convulsions, but lab tests did not confirm Japanese encephalitis or Chandipura virus.According to the department’s report, five children died at home or while being taken to hospital, one died after being taken home by family members against medical advice, and one died at RNT Medical College in Udaipur.Salumber Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Mahendra Kumar Parmar said, “We are trying to understand why children were not brought to hospitals in time for treatment. We found many tribal families in the area first sought treatment from unqualified practitioners, delaying proper medical care.”“The quacks in the area misguide them. They get the treatment from quacks in the area and do not go to the hospital for treatment on time,” he said.After the deaths, the health department launched a campaign against quackery, stepped up awareness drives to push timely treatment by qualified doctors, and began anti-mosquito measures in affected villages.In the past 10 days, 6,233 health teams surveyed 114,773 houses and identified 1,162 people with fever, vomiting, cold and other symptoms. Of them, 81 were referred to hospitals and 1,005 were given first aid on the spot. Anti-mosquito activities were carried out at 6,352 locations.
