Mystery Viral Fever Outbreak Grips Parts Of India: UP, Bihar, Haryana Children Badly Hit

As medical professionals warn of an impending third wave of coronavirus soon to hit India, a viral fever outbreak across parts of the country is claiming the lives of several amid growing panic. Reports of the viral fever, affecting children most, are majorly surfacing from the northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana. Fatalities are reportedly charting upwards of a hundred, as health authorities work to decode the 'mystery' affliction.

Several of these fever cases have been identified as dengue, scrub typhus, seasonal influenza, while some areas hit with illnesses are yet to fully ascertain the disease affecting their population.

For instance, Haryana's Chilli village is one of the latest to be hit by the 'mystery' fever, killing eight children in the last ten days. Approximately 50 or more have fallen sick. Though locals fear dengue - which is being considered a possibility, since the area is devoid of full sanitation and hygiene - the health department is yet to give a confirmation.

"Testing for COVID-19, dengue, malaria has been started. We are also testing for other causes of fever," Dr Vijay Kumar, senior medical officer in Hathin, Haryana, told ANI. 

Viral Fever Outbreak Sparks Concern, Health Depts Scramble To Action

Cases of viral outbreaks ravaging Uttar Pradesh have been blowing up since August this year. By September 1, the fever had claimed the lives of at least 50 people in the state, the BBC reported. Latest numbers by health officials from the Firozabad district suggest over 12000 people are affected by illness and 114 have died, 88 of which were children.

Mathura, meanwhile, is reportedly facing full hospitals as viral infection cases rise, with eight to ten children dead. Other affected areas include Agra, Bareilly and Badaun. Local health departments are carrying out regular fogging and cleaning exercises to counter stagnant breeding grounds and ensure better sanitation in villages.

NITI Aayog chairman Dr VK Paul, taking cognisance of the situation at a press briefing last week, said there need to be ample precautions for dengue cases since there is "no vaccination" for it, as there is for COVID-19.

According to Times of India, state health authorities in Bihar said they were "fully prepared" in light of spreading illnesses, and that while 13 children died of viral fever this month, almost 300 had recovered. 87 children are still under treatment.

New Delhi and adjoining areas of NOIDA have reported viral cases as well, where doctors have urged caution citing the rise in the number of patients. Delhi's leading Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is seeing majority cases of dengue, followed by viral influenza and respiratory syncytial virus and scrub typhus, as quoted by ANI. Variants of swine flu have also been reported. 

In southern India, meanwhile, Bengaluru in Karnataka is reporting similar viral fever cases affecting children. Doctors are saying about 50 patients walk in daily and a few children are being admitted for treatment too.

What are the symptoms being reported? 

Symptoms of the viral cases coincide with those seen in dengue, and sometimes COVID-19, such as high fever, dehydration, joint pain, body ache, cough and cold, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, vomiting, low platelet count.

Scrub typhus, a bacterial disease spread through bites of larval mites, attacks the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. It has caused at least 50 deaths in UP, as per government data, though certain reports suggest actual numbers might be higher. Meanwhile, dengue cases have claimed over 50 lives in Firozabad alone, according to health officials quoted by Reuters, which says UP might be facing its worst outbreak in years.

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