A mysterious fever has surfaced at Baalur, a village of over 500 population near Ripponpet in Shivamogga district, as 35 persons are reported to have been infected with it since Friday last.
It all began on Friday last when eight persons in the village developed complaints of fever and pain in joints. They underwent treatment at the primary health centre at Ripponpet. However, the number of infected persons jumped to 32 by Sunday and another three complained of similar symptoms on Monday, District Health Officer Nagaraj Naik told The Hindu . Blood samples of all the patients were subjected to medical investigation, which tested negative for malaria, chikungunya and dengue.
Meanwhile, a team of medical experts from a private hospital in Manipal visited the village on Sunday and conducted medical examination.
Dr. Naik said, the medical experts suspected the symptoms to have been caused by a “droplet viral infection”. The blood samples were later sent to a private health establishment at Manipal for further tests and the results were expected in four days’ time.
A medical camp had been set up at Baalur and two doctors had been deputed to treat the patients. Those suffering from serious health complications were treated at the general hospital in Sagar and Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences.
Adequate stock of medicines was being maintained in the village, he said.
Kalagodu Ratnakar, president of the Shivamogga Zilla Panchayat, has said that the local gram panchayat had launched a drive to control mosquitoes at Baalur and the neighbouring Haalugudde villages.
Fogging operation had been conducted in places, which were potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes, he said.
Besides fever, they have joint pain
Medical experts from Manipal visited the village on Sunday
