Eight people dead, cases rising in suspected Chandipura virus outbreak in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said that 8 children have died from suspected Chandipura virus infections in the past week, while the number of cases has risen to 14.

"Cases have been reported from Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Kheda, Mehsana and Rajkot districts. Additionally, two patients from Rajasthan and one from Madhya Pradesh received treatment in Gujarat. Eight deaths have been reported, but confirmation is pending based on sample results," Patel said.

The minister said that the first four suspected cases were reported in the civil hospital at Himatnagar in Sabarkantha district.

"A special team has been appointed to study the Chandipura virus and take precautionary measures. Those infected with the Chandipura virus need to be treated as soon as possible. We are carrying out rescue operations by coordinating community health centres and primary health centres," the minister said.

The virus, a member of the Vesiculovirus genus in the Rhabdoviridae family, causes fever with flu-like symptoms and acute encephalitis. It is transmitted by vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies. The Chandipura virus, a member of the Rhabdoviridae family, leads to symptoms akin to flu and can cause acute encephalitis, a severe inflammation of the brain. It was first identified in 1965 in Maharashtra and has been linked to various outbreaks of encephalitic illness in the country.