First Chandipura Virus Death Confirmed in Gujarat, Two More Suspected Cases Emerge
Gujarat has confirmed its first death due to the Chandipura virus, as a four-year-old child from Mota Kanthariya in Aravalli succumbed to the illness at a government hospital in Sabarkantha. Health Minister Rushikesh Patel announced the confirmation, which came from Pune’s National Institute of Virology (NIV). This tragic development coincides with reports of two more suspected deaths from the virus, bringing the toll to 14 over the past two weeks, indicating a potential outbreak.
A seven-year-old boy from Amraji Na Muvada village in Gandhinagar’s Dehgam has been admitted to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital with symptoms consistent with Chandipura viral encephalitis. Additionally, a four-year-old girl from Bariya Faliyu in Godhra is undergoing treatment at SSG Hospital in Vadodara for symptoms such as fever, vomiting, and convulsions. The state has reported 26 suspected cases so far, with most under investigation and awaiting confirmation.
The Chandipura virus, part of the Vesiculovirus genus, causes symptoms similar to the flu and acute encephalitis. It is transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies. Over 18,000 people have been screened for symptoms as cases have emerged in Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Kheda, Mehsana, and Rajkot districts. Authorities have intensified surveillance efforts, including surveying 60 houses in a Gandhinagar village, to contain the potential spread and provide treatment.
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