What is the deadly Chandipura virus, which has claimed the lives of six individuals in Gujarat?

16/7/2024,

Everything You Need to Know A dangerous virus is rapidly spreading across Gujarat. The Chandipura virus has already claimed the lives of six children.

You may find all the information you need to know about the outbreak on this website.

According to a statement released by the state Health Minister, Rushikesh Patel, a severe viral epidemic in Gujarat is now causing 12 cases and 6 deaths. The Chandipura district is thought to have inspired the name of the Chandipura Viral Encephalitis (CHPV), which was initially identified in that part of Maharashtra.

He issued the following statement: "Six deaths related to suspected Chandipura virus have been reported in the state, but it will only be clear whether they were caused by the Chandipura virus after results of the samples are in."




The Chandipura Virus: Avoid the Warning Symptoms

The Chandipura virus causes both acute encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, and fever, which is similar to flu-like symptoms.

It is carried by a variety of vectors, including mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies. The pathogen is a member of the Vesiculovirus genus within the Rhabdoviridae family.

Fever, headache, vomiting, convulsions, coma, myalgia, soreness in the muscles, stomach discomfort, diarrhoea, and respiratory distress are some of the symptoms.

In extreme situations, the infected individual may experience neurological suffering in addition to going into a coma.

Safety precautions and intervention

There isn't yet a specific drug available to treat the Chandipura virus. Individualised antiviral medication and neurological preservation are often prioritised by physicians when treating patients in an emergency. The main victims are children. As a precaution, it is therefore best to wear clothing with sleeves when going outside.




All 12 samples have been sent to Pune's National Institute of Virology (NIV) for confirmation; eight of the samples were from patients at the Sabarkantha civic hospital, according to Patel.
Four infants died on July 10 from what the paediatricians at the Himatnagar Civil Hospital assumed to be the Chandipura virus; they sent samples of the victims to NIV for verification.


Four more children who were admitted to the hospital later presented with similar symptoms.

"The Chandipura virus is not spreading. Nevertheless, the affected areas have been kept under strict supervision. We have screened 18,646 persons in 4,487 households. Patel claims that the health service is working around the clock to contain the illness's spread.