Gandhinagar Civil Hospital escalated care for rehearsal personnel preparing for Rashtriya Ekta Diwas after platelet counts dropped among two dozen patients admitted with dengue, hospital sources said, stretching a district facility already handling seasonal fever cases.
Physicians ordered platelet transfusions for the most severe presentations while monitoring dozens of others with fever and joint pain. Admissions climbed after 34 personnel arrived on Thursday from a shared hostel complex housing contingents from multiple states.
Clinical picture
Dengue’s dangerous phase often begins after fever subsides, when platelets fall and capillary leakage risk rises. Doctors prioritise hydration, paracetamol instead of ibuprofen, and transfusion when counts breach institutional thresholds. Most patients are young adults, which reduces mortality risk but increases the manpower impact on parade schedules.
Hospital staff described long shifts as more contingents sought tests over the weekend. Rapid antigen and NS1 tests confirmed cases, while suspected infections remained isolated in separate wards to limit cross exposure.
Vector control on a deadline
Municipal teams face pressure to fog breeding sites before additional marchers arrive for Unity Day on 31 October. Health educators are distributing repellents and urging removal of standing water in hostel bathrooms and parade-ground catering areas. Epidemiologists note that Gujarat’s post-monsoon window often produces localized outbreaks when large groups congregate.
Opposition politicians who visited the ward criticised meal quality for patients, alleging biscuit-only breakfasts. Nutrition affects recovery times; hospital administrators have promised hot meals but have not published menus for security personnel.
Guidance for contingents still en route
State health bulletins recommend long sleeves at dusk, DEET-based repellents and early testing if fever persists beyond 48 hours. Contingents should carry prior medical records because platelet management varies by comorbidity.
For Gujarat’s health department, the outbreak is both a medical response and a logistics problem: failing to stabilise personnel could force parade commanders to replace trained marchers on short notice. Platelet bags are available today; public confidence depends on whether vector control keeps tomorrow’s admissions down.
Blood banks in Ahmedabad said they can supply platelet concentrates but urged organisers to stagger arrivals to avoid sudden demand spikes. Red Cross volunteers scheduled donation drives on Sunday to replenish stocks used over the weekend.
Researchers note that Gujarat’s dengue serotype mix can shift year to year, making early typing important for severe cases. The civil hospital has not released serotype data publicly, but clinicians said most admissions responded to standard supportive care without intensive care escalation.