The Rajasthan health department has issued an advisory after discovering a youngster in Dungarpur district infected with the Chandipura virus, local media sources reported.

The advice highlights the need for early hospitalization for anyone diagnosed with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) or Chandipura Virus. The notice recommends immediate admission to the nearest district hospital if a person tests positive for Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) or Chandipura Virus.

The health department's director, Dr. Ravi Prakash Mathur, reported one case in Dungarpur. The health department has instructed the officials to control the disease.

In the event of a positive diagnosis, the advice directs health workers to collect and transmit samples from individuals who have come into contact with the infected person to a laboratory in Pune for additional testing. The advise also mandates the examination of pets in the infected household and the forwarding of samples to the Animal Husbandry Department's laboratory.

We have instructed health staff to conduct door-to-door surveys to identify and examine suspicious cases. The medical college's microbiology team will forward samples from any suspected cases to the Pune laboratory for testing.

The health department has also proposed measures to restrict the spread of mosquitoes and flies, which are carriers of the virus. The health department has ordered fogging and DDT spraying along the Gujarat border to reduce the risk. Dr. Mathur has also given instructions to spray around houses and destroy grass growing around all colonies and cattle sites.

The Chandipura virus, discovered in India in 1965, has been associated with outbreaks of acute encephalitis, especially among youngsters. Sandflies predominantly transmit the virus, which causes severe sickness and high mortality rates, necessitating immediate and effective response measures.