Chandipura Virus (CHPV) Claims 22 Children in Gujarat; Symptoms and Prevention Explained

Key facts

• Chandipura virus (CHPV) is a rare viral infection that causes Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), leading to brain inflammation and swelling.
• CHPV belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family and primarily affects children below 15 years of age.
• CHPV was first identified in 1965 in Chandipura village in Maharashtra, India.
• CHPV is a vector-borne disease primarily transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sandflies; certain species of mosquitoes and ticks may also contribute to transmission.
• In India, CHPV cases have been mainly reported from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, with cases rising during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons.
• At least 22 children have died in Gujarat due to CHPV infection during the ongoing monsoon season, and 35 out of 184 blood samples tested positive for the virus.
• CHPV infection can progress rapidly, with severe cases showing worsening symptoms within 24 to 48 hours.
• Initial CHPV symptoms include sudden high fever, severe headache, vomiting and nausea, body aches, and extreme weakness and fatigue.
• Neurological symptoms of CHPV include seizures or convulsions, confusion, excessive drowsiness, loss of awareness, brain swelling, and coma in severe cases.
• Previous CHPV outbreaks have reported fatality rates of 50% to 75% among paediatric cases, making early diagnosis and hospitalisation critical.
• Sandflies breed in cracks in mud walls and houses, damp soil, livestock shelters, and areas with accumulated organic waste.
• CHPV is diagnosed through RT-PCR testing of blood or cerebrospinal fluid and IgM ELISA antibody tests.
• There is no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for CHPV; care focuses on intensive support, seizure control, intravenous fluids, and reducing brain swelling.
• Prevention of CHPV relies on avoiding sandfly bites using insecticide-treated nets, full-sleeved clothes, insect repellents, sealing mud-wall cracks, proper waste disposal, and insecticide sprays in affected areas.
• Following the outbreak, Gujarat's Health Department intensified surveillance, testing, and monitoring in affected regions to identify suspected infections early.