IGMC doctors team collects blood,throat swab samples,says situation under control; govt deputes three regular doctors for Kupvi CHC Several villages in Chopal in Shimla district are under the grip of viral fever. But due to the absence of doctors at the community health centre (CHC) at Kupvi,many of them are deprived of proper treatment. A state-level team of 10 doctors from the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital,Shimla,visited four villages in Kupvi area of Chopal on Sunday after two children of the same family died of high fever a day before. The team confirmed that of the 223 people examined,46 had reported fever in the last two weeks. Many of them,mostly children,had not taken any regular treatment from government health institutions,as doctors were not available at CHC,Kupvi. After the team sent its report to the government,it is learnt,a decision to depute three regular doctors at the CHC was taken. A medical officer,a physician and a paediatrician have been directed to join there on regular basis. Till now,only a nurse and a supervisor were posted there. Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) head Dr Vinod Mehta,who led the state-level team of 10 doctors,said: We found about eight patients who were running fever and 46 who had reported fever in the last two weeks in Khubrali,Juru,Shila and Bhatna villages. Preliminary medical investigation and symptoms show viral,which is normal at this time of the year,but the alarming factor was the death of two children in Khabral village. He said samples of the family members of the deceased were collected,adding that four other children in the same family were absolutely fine. Throat swab samples of nearly 50 people have also been collected to investigate the causes. Though the situation seems to be under control,we will take caution and station the team of doctors in Chopal,even as regular doctors have been deputed at the CHC who will survey the villages to see if any other disease is prevalent in the area, said Mehta.
