Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Influenza B have been detected in some samples of children admitted with high fever to the Jalpaiguri district hospital.
The findings brought relief to health authorities as before Thursday the cause of fever among hundreds of children in the region had been a mystery.
Laboratory diagnoses have also confirmed dengue in some cases, said a state health official.
Sources in Jalpaiguri district hospital said swab samples from 10 children under treatment had been sent to the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine on Tuesday.
“RSV was found in three samples and Influenza B in other three samples. Nothing was found in the rest four samples,” a source said.
Health officials in Calcutta said on detailed inquiry by the state expert committee, no specific outbreak was found so far. “Fortunately, RS virus infection is generally self-limiting and is cured within three to four days. Death rate is extremely low for the infection.”
Sushanata Roy, the office-on-special duty, north Bengal, said: “Presence of this virus (RSV) in a child’s body is very common. It spreads through common cough and cold. RSV is infectious and I request parents to rush to nearby hospitals if symptoms show up.”
Six child deaths have been recorded across north Bengal in the past 72 hours. Health officials said some of these children had comorbidities and that discharge rate of admitted patients was also high.
Nevertheless, the state government is sending an expert team from Calcutta to north Bengal districts to further review the situation.
Most of the north Bengal districts have also formed committees to monitor the respective paediatric units in hospitals.