Sabarkantha (Gujarat):

On the rising cases of Chandipura virus, Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said that 50 cases of Chandipura virus have been reported in the entire state and 16 people have lost their lives.

Rushikesh Patel said, “14 cases of Chandipura virus have been reported in Himmatpur, out of which seven patients have been admitted. Three cases of Chandipura virus have come from other states. 50 cases of Chandipura virus have been reported in the entire state and 16 people have lost their lives.”

He further said that information regarding this has been passed in every village and Community Health Centers and the Chief Minister has conducted meetings with collectors, Chief District Health Officer (CDHO) and medical colleges.

He further said, “In Gujarat, symptoms of Chandipura virus were found in kids which has caused some scare. Seven cases were sent to Pune for lab testing, out of which only one case of Chandipura virus has been found. Only Chandipura virus is not responsible for all the symptoms such as swelling and diarrhoea. This can also be due to encephalitis. Important information regarding the virus has been circulated in the entire state.”

Earlier, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed the situation in the state amid the Chandipura virus and took stock of the measures taken to control the epidemic.

Gujarat Health Minister Rishikesh Patel and other senior officials also participated in the meeting, the Information Department of Gujarat stated.

CM Patel interacted with the State Municipal Commissioners, District Collectors, District Development Officers as well as Chief District Health Officers, via video conferencing to get the details of their district performance.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to run the campaign of spraying Malathion powder in the districts to prevent the disease. He also asked the officials to ensure immediate, intensive treatment is provided to patients in case of any kind of fever.

Gujarat Health Minister, Hrishikesh Patel, also suggested measures to be taken in rural areas by grassroots level workers like Asha worker sisters, Anganwadi worker sisters and nurse sisters to prevent this epidemic.

Many districts in Gujarat have reported suspected cases of Chandipura virus infection.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Sabarkantha:

Five more suspected cases of Chandipura virus have been reported from Gujarat’s Sabarkantha district. According to the officials, 14 people suspected of being infected with the virus were admitted to Sabarkantha Civil Hospital.

“Till now, there are 14 cases of Chandipura virus in Sabarkantha Civil Hospital. Out of the 14 cases, 6 people have died. 7 cases under treatment at Himmatnagar Hospital,” Sabarkantha District Health Officer Raj Sutariya told ANI.

The National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune on Wednesday confirmed the first fatality of a four-year-old girl who had contracted the Chandipura virus in Gujarat.

In the past 24 hours, a total of five children were found suspected of Chandipura virus in Himmatnagar.

According to the officials, 6 children are under treatment in Himmatnagar Civil for the suspected Chandipura virus infection.

Many districts in Gujarat have reported suspected cases of Chandipura virus infection.

According to the officials, three deaths from Chandipura virus infection have been reported in the Aravalli district of Gujarat.

Gujarat’s Kheda district reported one case of the Chandipura virus.

According to the officials, 12 samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.

Neighboring Rajasthan has also reported one death from the Chandipura virus.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed the Chandipura virus situation in the state and the measures taken to control the epidemic. In this meeting held in the presence of Health Minister Rishikesh Patel and other senior officials, the CM held a video conference with the State Municipal Commissioners, District Collectors and District Development Officers, as well as the Chief District Health Officers, to get the details of their district performance.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Gandhinagar:

Increasing surveillance can be crucial and help in the early detection and treatment of the Chandipura virus that has so far claimed the lives of six children and affected about 12 in Gujarat, said doctors on Tuesday.

According to Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel, the virus is suspected to have caused the death of six children in the past five days, while the number of cases has risen to 12 — from Gujarat (9), Rajasthan (2) and Madhya Pradesh (1).

All patients received treatment in Gujarat, said Patel, adding that all 12 samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune for verification.

What is the Chandipura virus?

Chandipura virus is a type of arbovirus that is a member of the vesicular virus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family. It is transmitted primarily through phlebotomine sandflies and sometimes through ticks and mosquitoes.

Children are more prone to getting infected with this virus, health experts said.

“Chandipura virus is an emerging pathogen that has garnered significant attention in recent years due to its potential to cause severe and often fatal illnesses in humans, particularly in children,” Dr Neha Rastogi Panda, Consultant, Infectious Disease, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, told IANS.

First identified in India in 1965, the virus is named after the Chandipura village in Maharashtra where it was initially isolated.

“Its symptoms include sudden onset of high-grade fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, seizures, altered sensorium which can ultimately lead to death within 24 to 72 hours of the onset of the symptoms,” Dr. Shreya Dubey, Consultant – Neonatology and Paediatric, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, told IANS.

The virus’s epidemiology is not fully understood, but outbreaks have been reported mainly in India, with sporadic cases in other regions.

“It poses a significant public health challenge due to its rapid transmission and the high mortality rate associated with infections,” said Dr Panda.

Early detection key

Currently, there are no specific antiviral treatments or vaccines against the Chandipura virus.

The disease course is rapidly progressive and has a high case fatality rate, said the experts, calling for early detection and treatment.

“The clinical presentation of Chandipura virus infection can be severe and sudden. Symptoms typically begin with high fever, headaches, vomiting, and altered mental status, quickly progressing to seizures and encephalitis,” Dr Panda said.

“As soon as someone notices any symptoms, they should visit the emergency or seek medical attention as early as possible,” added Dr Dubey.

Public health strategies

Insecticide sprays can help eliminate the vector, said the experts, while also calling for efforts to prevent the spread of the virus by controlling sandfly populations.

“Public health strategies include the use of insect repellents, bed nets, and insecticides, as well as raising awareness about the risks and symptoms of the disease,” said Dr Panda.

She also stressed the need for increasing research to better understand the virus’s transmission dynamics.

“It will also help develop effective treatments and create vaccines. Increased surveillance and reporting can help in early detection and containment of outbreaks, ultimately reducing the impact of this deadly virus on affected populations,” the doctor said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Ahmedabad:

Two more children died of suspected Chandipura virus infection in Gujarat on Tuesday, taking the number of fatalities recorded in the state so far to eight, Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said.

With this, the number of persons infected from the virus has gone up to 14, and eight of them have died, he told reporters in state capital Gandhinagar.

Cases have been reported from Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Kheda, Mehsana and Rajkot districts, the minister said.

Three cases from the neighbouring states – two from Rajasthan and one from Madhya Pradesh – have also been treated in Gujarat hospitals, Mr Patel said. Of the two patients from Rajasthan, one has died, he said.

Mr Patel said the state health department has undertaken intensive surveillance of the affected districts, and special advisory has been issued to community and primary health centres and sub-district hospitals as well as medical colleges to treat suspected cases with certain symptoms as Chandipura virus cases.

“Mortality rate in the disease is high and it is difficult for a patient to survive if there is a delay in getting treatment,” he said.

Screening of over 44,000 people has been conducted at 8,600 houses from across 26 residential zones as a precautionary measure, he said.

Two patients from Sabarkantha district, three from Aravalli, one from Mahisagar and Rajkot districts each, and one from Rajasthan are among those who have died so far while being treated in the hospitals, the minister added.

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

The blood samples of the patients have been sent to Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) for confirmation and the results are awaited.

Chandipura virus causes fever, with symptoms similar to flu, and acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). The pathogen is a member of the Vesiculovirus genus of the family Rhabdoviridae. It is transmitted by vectors like mosquitoes, ticks and sandflies.

The 2003-2004 outbreaks in central India witnessed case fatality rates ranging from 56-75 per cent in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat with typical encephalitic symptoms.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)