Death Toll Rises in Suspected Viral Illness in Salumbar; Health Dept on Alert

Udaipur, April 9, 2026 - A mysterious illness has claimed the lives of at least seven children within about a week in Salumbar district leading to panic among the residents. All the victims were very young (between 2–4 years old) and include brothers Deepak (4) and Laxman (3), as well as Seema (4) from Lalpura village, and Rahul (4) and Kajal (2) of Ghata village. Another victim is a four-year-old girl from Jhalra block.

Common symptoms reported are high fever, vomiting, altered sensorium and, in some cases, rapid deterioration of health within 24 hours.

Health department officials have collected samples from the patients and sent them to test labs including National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune. Health officials strongly suspect mosquito-borne viral encephalitis (brain infection) but there is also a possibility of a Chandipura virus variant. However, lab confirmation is still pending.

A large-scale health response is underway in the district by health officials, including a team from RNT Medical College, Udaipur. Door-to-door surveys are being carried out in more than 50, 000 homes. Several more children are reported ill and under observation or treatment. Around 275 symptomatic patients have been identified and referred to other hospitals, including Udaipur and Salumbar. Mosquito-control measures, including fogging and anti-larval drives, have been put in place.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Dr Manna Lal Rawat visited Maharana Bhupal (MB) Hospital in Udaipur on Wednesday (April 8) to inquire about the health of children admitted there. He spoke with the hospital superintendent, Dr RL Suman, as well as the doctors treating the children in the ward and emphasised that no effort should be spared in providing the best possible medical care to all patients.

MP Rawat also held discussions with the research team investigating the disease in the region and urged them to deliver results as soon as possible in order to control this ailment.

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