India - Gujarat: 17 die of mysterious illness following high fever in Kachchh (Kutch) district

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How a family in Kutch’s village lost three men to ‘mystery fever’
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Written by Brendan Dabhi
Ahmedabad | September 16, 2024 08:26 IST

Until August, 45-year-old Aamiben Maman Jat lived in Kutch’s Bekhada village with her two sons: Shakur, 20, and Jusan, 18...

Two weeks later, she is the sole occupant of her home: Both her sons fell ill early in September and succumbed to what is being called “mystery fever” that has claimed at least 17 lives so far in the district. They were among the first victims of the disease that had gripped Lakhpat taluka and eventually made its way to Abdasa taluka.
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Soon after the death of her two sons, Aamiben’s nephew Mushtaq (20) – the son of her sister Noorbanubai Lukma Jat – also died of the same symptoms as his cousins.

In fact, all three young men fell sick on August 30 after getting drenched in the rains that battered the region between August 26 and 30.
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According to government documents, all three young men died on September 3 at different hospitals.
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Meanwhile, teams of experts continue to grapple with the causes of the “mystery fever” with samples sent to the National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) ruling out Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), Hantavirus, Nipah virus, Typhoid, Leptospirosis, Covid-19 and Swine Flu. The Animal Husbandry department has ruled out zoonotic diseases.

Investigations continue for Scrub Typhus, Chandipura Vesiculovirus (CHPV), Japanese Encephalitis and the Plague.
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/kutch-village-mystery-fever-family-men-death-9570019/

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After 15-year old son, 42-year-old father’s is the 17th death due to Kutch ‘mystery fever’

“The earliest samples sent to NIV have come back negative for Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), Hantavirus, and Nipah virus.”: Kutch district health officer

Written by Brendan Dabhi
Ahmedabad | Updated: September 12, 2024 09:37 IST

A 42-year-old man, who opted for a discharge against medical advice (DAMA) from a hospital to conduct the last rites of his son, died on Wednesday, possibly becoming the 17th casualty of what is being regarded as “mystery fever” in Kutch, on Wednesday.

The man’s 15-year-old son died due to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) leading to pneumonitis on September 10..
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Of the 17 deceased, seven are children between five and 16 years of age, three between 18 and 20 years, another three between 30 and 36 years, and four others between 42 and 50 years in age. Of those who lost their lives, six were female and 11 were male.
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Speaking to the Indian Express, Dr Kamlesh Upadhyay, HoD of Medicine at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, said, “In the clinical presentations, we have seen a pattern of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart wall) and skeletal muscle damage among patients. We have also seen Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC).”

Dr Upadhyay further said, “Pyrexia (high-grade fever) is common across all the deceased patients along with Hypotension (low blood pressure). There is also some impact on the kidneys. Besides, the platelet count of the patients was also low. There were markings on the lungs but pulmonary fibrosis could also occur due to the impact of pneumonia or heart failure. Further investigations are underway.”
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When asked about the possibility of a contagious pathogen, Dr Upadhyay said, “There may be a possibility of contagiousness as we have seen certain household clusters, but we need more data to confirm whether it is so. Fortunately, there is no rapid spread of disease.”
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/kutch-mystery-fever-17th-death-9563332/

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September 11, 2024
Mysterious fever worsens in Kutch amid heavy rain, toll touches 15

Excerpt:

Reports indicate that over 15 people have died in Lakhpat taluka allegedly due to this unknown illness.
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The Animal Husbandry Department has ruled out zoonotic diseases though all the deceased belonged to the Jat Maldhari tribe, a herdsmen community residing in the arid regions of Gujarat.

The Gujarat government has requested the National Institute of Virology (NIV) to test the samples for a wide range of pathogens, including but not limited to Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), Scrub Typhus, Chandipura Vesiculovirus (CHPV), Japanese Encephalitis, and even Plague.

The health department has ruled out an outbreak of communicable disease due to the absence of cluster infections.

Among the 27 contacts and symptomatic individuals identified in the health survey, the RRT found only two cases of Falciparum Malaria, two cases of Swine Flu, and one case of Dengue.

https://morungexpress.com/mysterious-fever-worsens-in-kutch-amid-heavy-rain-toll-touches-15

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Media [bolding mine]
September 11, 2024 17:21 IST

Gujarat deploys specialist doctors, 50 medical teams in Kutch as ‘undiagnosed fever’ claims 11 lives

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

continued: https://www.financialexpress.com/lif...lives-3608315/

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Media
September 11, 2024

Gujarat govt deploys specialist doctors, 50 medical teams in Kutch as 'undiagnosed fever' kills 11

Bhuj, Sep 11 (PTI) The Gujarat government has deployed specialist doctors and 50 medical teams in and around seven villages of two talukas in Kutch district after an undiagnosed fever has claimed the lives of 11 persons in a week, a state minister said on Wednesday

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/g...lls-11-3186125

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Media [bolding mine]
[Gujarat is a state along the western coast of India. Lakhpat is a town in Kachchh district in the Indian state of Gujarat]

UPDATED: Sep 11, 2024 18:54 IST
What's the mystery fever in Gujarat's Kutch that has claimed 14 lives in five days?

Gujarat recently battled fatal outbreaks of the Chandipura Virus and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome. The government has rushed 27 medical teams to control the new round of infections


A mysterious fever has claimed 14 lives in Lakhpat taluka of Gujarat’s Kutch district within five days since September 3. The deaths have shocked both the people and the administration alike as infections like H1N1, dengue, malaria, Covid-19 and Crimean-Congo fever have been ruled out. Sources said the symptoms are pneumonitis-like, but there is no official confirmation yet.

The deceased are in the age group of 5 to 50 years. The symptoms began with the victims developing fever, chills, cough and, within hours, pneumonia-like conditions, difficulty in breathing—eventually resulting in multi-organ failure and death within days.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/whats-the-mystery-fever-in-gujarats-kutch-that-has-claimed-14-lives-in-five-days-2597934-2024-09-11#

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Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india...032156825.html

Toll from mysterious fever in Gujarat reaches 15, samples sent to Pune institute
By HT Correspondent
Sep 11, 2024 10:52 AM IST
District collector Amit Arora said the tests so far ruled out possibilities of diseases such as H1N1, swine flu, Crimean-Congo fever, malaria, and dengue


The toll from a mysterious fever in Lakhpat in Gujarat’s Kutch district has risen to 15 over the last eight days even as the authorities were yet unable to determine its cause. The fever, initially suspected to be pneumonitis, claimed at least 10 lives, including children, between September 3 to September 7. There have been at least five more deaths since then.

District collector Amit Arora said they have sent 11 samples of those who died to Pune’s National Institute of Virology to determine the cause of the deaths. “The results are expected to arrive in a day or two. We will have to wait for the results to find out whether this is a known virus or something new.”...

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13 Die Of Mysterious Illness Following High Fever In Gujarat, Probe Underway
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India NewsEdited by Raunaq Lekhi Updated: September 08, 2024 7:03 pm IST

New Delhi: Thirteen people have died in Gujarat's Kachchh district due to a mysterious disease days after the region suffered from heavy rainfall. The doctors are yet to diagnose the disease accurately, said an official.

A 12-year-old died this morning in Sandro village adjacent to Bhekhda village. "The only thing on people's minds is what kind of fever this is that can't be treated even in Bhuj-Ahmedabad?" District Panchayat member Mamad Jung Jat said.

The patients who died from the mysterious disease had symptoms like fever, cold, cough and pneumonia, claimed locals. Young patients had reduced immunity following high fever and died of lung and liver damage.

Some aged patients died just two days after getting a fever. The health department could not verify the type of fever and said that it would only be confirmed after the report comes from Gandhinagar. They are currently investigating the situation.
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"Primarily, the deaths appear to have been caused by pneumonia. It does not appear to be from contamination nor does it seem like a communicable disease," Amit Arora, the collector of Kachchh said.

"Samples are being collected for testing against dengue, malaria, H1N1 swine flu, and pneumonia.
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https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gujarat-news-13-die-of-mysterious-illness-following-high-fever-in-gujarat-probe-underway-6518829