29 cases of Chandipura Virus reported in Gujarat!

Suspected cases of the Chandipura virus in Gujarat have risen, with the death toll now at 15 and total infections at 29

Suspected cases of the Chandipura virus in Gujarat have risen, with the death toll now at 15 and total infections at 29. These cases have emerged from various districts, including Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Kheda, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surendranagar, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Panchmahal, Jamnagar, and Morbi. The most recent fatality was a 4-year-old girl, marking the first confirmed death due to the virus, as verified by the Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV). The girl, from Mota Kanthariya village in Aravalli district, passed away at the civil hospital in Himatnagar, Sabarkantha district, confirmed by Chief District Health Officer (CDHO) Raj Sutariya. The state health department reported that 14 other patients are suspected to have died from the infection, with their samples sent to the NIV for confirmation. Meanwhile, three patients treated at the civil hospital in Sabarkantha have tested negative for the virus.

The Chandipura virus, part of the Vesiculovirus genus in the Rhabdoviridae family, causes flu-like symptoms and can lead to acute encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. It is transmitted through vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies. Additionally, suspected cases have been noted in patients from Rajasthan’s Udaipur district and Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district, who were treated in Gujarat’s hospitals. Health authorities have screened over 51,000 people across 26 residential zones in the affected regions. The virus previously caused significant outbreaks in central India during 2003-2004, with fatality rates between 56% and 75% in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. Given the severity of the symptoms and high mortality rates during past outbreaks, health officials closely monitor the situation and take precautionary measures to prevent further spread.