In a tragic development, six more children in Gujarat have died of suspected Chandipura viral infection since July 10, raising the total number of cases to 12, according to state Health Minister Rushikesh Patel. The victims’ samples have been dispatched to Pune’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) for confirmation.
The Chandipura virus typically manifests with fever and flu-like symptoms, potentially escalating to acute encephalitis, a severe inflammation of the brain. The virus is primarily transmitted through vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and sand flies. It belongs to the Vesiculovirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family.
Of the 12 cases, four were from Sabarkantha district, three from Aravalli, one each from Mahisagar and Kheda in Gujarat, while two patients hailed from Rajasthan and one from Madhya Pradesh. All patients received treatment in Gujarat.
Patel emphasized that confirmation of the Chandipura virus as the cause of these deaths will be determined by the results from NIV. Notably, five out of the last six deaths occurred at the civil hospital in Himatnagar, Sabarkantha district, where eight patients’ samples have been sent for testing.
On July 10, four children succumbed to symptoms resembling those of the Chandipura virus at the Himatnagar Civil Hospital. Samples were immediately sent to NIV for verification. Subsequently, four more hospitalized children exhibited similar symptoms.
“There is no evidence of widespread transmission of the Chandipura virus,” Patel stated. “However, we are closely monitoring the affected areas. In total, 18,646 individuals across 4,487 homes have been screened. Our health agency is working around the clock to prevent further spread of the illness.”
