Joint (Medical) Director, Jageshwar Prasad, said the cause of the deaths has yet to be determined.
He added: “Although they appear to be cases of some acute viral illness, nothing can be said for sure until all their reports are received.
Prasad also said that deaths were reported within a day of the onset of symptoms.
A mother who lost her 5-year-old son said her son woke up at 5 a.m. and demanded a drink of water before he had a seizure. The boy vomited and then died at around 8am.
“Three of the seven children who died drank locally flavored ice,” says Prasad, though he has ruled out one case of acute food poisoning.
Teams of doctors from Jaipur and Jodhpur will visit the area.
“The situation is being monitored. About 300 homes have been surveyed and 58 samples have been sent to a laboratory in Jaipur for testing,” Prasad said.
Kuldeep Singh, chief of pediatrics at Jodhpur’s All India Institute of Health Sciences, said it appeared to be a case of the virus.
“The state has sought our help and a team of doctors will soon be sent there,” he said.
Source: IANS
