7 children die of "mysterious illness" in Rajasthan
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Jaipur: Seven children, ages ranging from 2 to 14, died in Rajasthan's Sirohi district of a strange illness, showing symptoms from fever to seizures, IANS reported.
The deaths were reported between April and 13, and the children were residents of Fulabai Kheda and Fulaber villages in Sirohi. Joint Director (Health), Jageshwar Prasad, informed the cause of the death is still being probed. "While they seem to be cases of some acute viral disease, nothing can be said with certainty till all their reports are received," he said.
The parent of a 5-year-old among the dead said that her son woke up at 5 am one morning and asked for water. He had seizures later, vomited and died at 8 am that morning.
According to Prasad, the deaths were reported within one day of showing symptoms. "Three of the seven deceased children had consumed local flavoured ice," he said, though he ruled out a case of acute food poisoning.
Prasad further said, "The situation is being monitored. Around 300 houses have already been surveyed, and 58 samples have been sent to a lab in Jaipur for testing."
Teams of doctors from Jaipur and Jodhpur will visit the area.
Meanwhile, three more children have been admitted to a hospital as a precautionary measure.
In the meantime, three more children have been hospitalized with mild symptoms of cold, and one has pneumonia,
The head of the paediatric department at Jodhpur's All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Kuldeep Singh, said that the case in Rajasthan seems to be a viral infection. A team of doctors would be sent to the location soon, he said.
