Palanpur: Since Wednesday three girls have died of suspected diphtheria in Chibhada village of Deodar taluka in Banaskantha. Two of them died in civil hospital in Ahmedabad on Friday.The unidentified disease having symptoms like diphtheria has claimed one child each since Wednesday. Surprisingly all three are girls in the age group of 3 to 9 years. While two other who are under treatment for similar disease in Palanpur civil hospital too are girls.“The two children who were referred to civil hospital in Ahmedabad and later died tested negative for diphtheria. However we could not know reason of third death that took place in a private hospital of Tharad,” said Banaskantha district development officer BA Shah.“Nevertheless, we are not taking any chances and all precautionary measures are being taken,” he saidThe Chibhada village with population of about 2,000 has been reeling under fear of the unknown disease that has claimed three lives since Wednesday.“We have launched drive on war footing. Besides five medical officers, four supervisors and 10 nurses, surveillance workers have been going door to door and examining the children. So far we have vaccinated 376 children in two villages namely Chibhada and Bhabhabhani,” said Banaskantha chief district health officer Arum Acharya.Officials from Health and Family Welfare department, however, refused to divulge further details about the children.“This came s a shock since there had not been a diphtheria-related death in the State in recent years, owing to improved vaccination coverage. “Said Dr. Surendra Gupta physican and philanthropist.

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