A mysterious fever has swept through the Lakhpat taluka of Gujarat’s Kutch district, claiming 14 lives in just five days since September 3. The alarming deaths, which include six children, have left the local community and administration in shock. Medical experts have ruled out common infections like H1N1, dengue, malaria, Covid-19, and Crimean-Congo fever, heightening the urgency to identify the cause.
The victims, aged between 5 and 50, developed fever, chills, cough, and rapidly progressed to pneumonia-like symptoms, difficulty breathing, and multi-organ failure, leading to death within days. The Gujarat government has dispatched 27 medical teams to investigate the cause of the outbreak and recommend preventive measures.
Officials suspect a pneumonitis-like infection, though no official confirmation has been given. The deaths have primarily occurred in the Jat Maldhari herder community in Lakhpat, and the fever has now spread to the neighboring Abdasa taluka, affecting seven villages. Samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for analysis, with results pending.
A team from the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) in Gandhinagar has been enlisted to help identify the pathogen behind the mysterious illness. GBRC, which specializes in genomics and advanced biotechnology research, is working alongside the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune to analyze samples from the affected patients. The involvement of GBRC underscores the gravity of the situation, as the center is known for its expertise in investigating and decoding complex viral and bacterial infections.
A state-level epidemic and vector-borne disease team, along with a rapid response team from the Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences in Bhuj and PDU Medical College in Rajkot, has surveyed 2,234 residents across 318 households in the affected areas. Health Minister Rushikesh Patel emphasized that efforts are being made on a “war footing.” So far, 48 suspected cases have been identified, with two testing positive for malaria and one for dengue.
While medical teams are actively working in the region, additional support has been mobilized, including 100 isolation beds, ventilators, and BiPAP machines at the Adani G K General Hospital. Patel reassured the public that the situation, though serious, does not resemble an outbreak like Covid-19. He urged people to seek medical care immediately if symptoms appear.
In parallel, the Animal Husbandry department has been investigating the possibility of zoonotic diseases but has ruled out animal-to-human transmission. The heavy rains that lashed the region prior to the outbreak are suspected to have contributed to the spread of the infection. However, the health department has indicated that the infection does not appear to be communicable, given the lack of cluster cases.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Shaktisinh Gohil of the Congress party has termed the situation an “epidemic” and criticized the government for its delayed response. Gohil called for immediate action to improve drinking water availability and reduce mosquito infestations in the affected villages, citing poor healthcare facilities and understaffed health centers in the region.
As authorities await lab results to determine the exact cause of the fever, efforts are focused on controlling the situation and preventing further spread. The recent outbreak comes on the heels of Gujarat’s battle with Chandipura Virus (CHPV) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), which infected over 140 children, claiming 59 lives across the state.
While the situation remains critical, authorities continue to reassure residents that swift action is being taken to bring the mysterious illness under control.
Also Read: Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations: A Grand Affair Across India and Around the World
