Fatalities of Children Within 5 Days Suspected Due to Chandipura Virus, Says Gujarat Minister

Among the 12 patients, four are from Sabarkantha, three from Aravalli, and one each from Mahisagar and Kheda districts.

Six children have succumbed to suspected Chandipura virus in Gujarat over the past five days, bringing the total number of suspected cases to 12, announced Health Minister Rushikesh Patel on Monday.

Chandipura virus typically manifests with fever and flu-like symptoms, along with acute encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. Belonging to the Vesiculovirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family, this pathogen is transmitted by vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and sand flies.

“Four of these 12 patients are from Sabarkantha district, three from Aravalli, and one each from Mahisagar and Kheda. Additionally, two patients hail from Rajasthan and one from Madhya Pradesh, all of whom sought treatment in Gujarat,” Mr. Patel stated. He further noted, “While six deaths due to suspected Chandipura virus have been reported in the state, confirmation awaits the results of sample analyses.

five of the six reported deaths occurred at the civil hospital in Himatnagar, Sabarkantha district. All 12 samples, including eight from Sabarkantha, have been forwarded to Pune’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) for definitive testing,” he explained.

“Paediatricians at Himatnagar’s civil hospital initially suspected Chandipura virus as the cause of death for four children on July 10, sending their samples to NIV for verification. Subsequently, four additional children at the hospital exhibited similar symptoms.

Chandipura Virus: Not Contagious but Prompts Vigilance in Gujarat

According to Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel, Chandipura virus is not contagious, but extensive surveillance measures have been implemented in affected areas. Patel reported, ‘We have conducted screenings on a total of 18,646 individuals across 4,487 households.’ He emphasized the health department’s continuous efforts to contain the disease and prevent its spread.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/6-children-die-from-suspected-chandipura-virus-in-5-days-gujarat-minister-6112278