Gujarat state officials have reported an alarming outbreak of the Chandipura virus, with Health Minister Rushikesh Patel confirming 50 cases and 16 deaths suspected to be linked to the virus. Patel singled out Himmatpur in Sabar Kantha District as a focal point, where 14 cases have emerged, including 7 requiring hospitalization.
“The Chandipura virus has not only affected Gujarat but also spilled over into neighboring states, with 3 cases identified in patients from outside Gujarat,” Patel stated.
Concerns over the virus have prompted extensive public awareness efforts, with health officials disseminating information across villages and Community Health Centers throughout the state. Patel noted that symptoms resembling Chandipura virus, such as swelling and diarrhea, have been observed particularly in children, though laboratory tests in Pune confirmed only one Chandipura case among those examined. He emphasized that symptoms could also be indicative of other conditions like encephalitis.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel convened a comprehensive review meeting to evaluate the state’s response to the Chandipura outbreak. Municipal commissioners, district collectors, development officers, and health officials were instructed to intensify disease prevention efforts, including the distribution of Malathion powder and ensuring prompt treatment for patients with fever symptoms.
The Chandipura virus, a member of the Vesiculovirus genus, was first identified in Maharashtra’s Chandipura district in 1965. Known for causing acute encephalitis, the virus is primarily transmitted through mosquito, tick, and sand fly bites, injecting the virus into the bloodstream. Other potential modes of transmission include contact with infected bodily fluids from humans or animals.