Following the confirmation of Chandipura Viral Encephalitis  among children in Himatnagar and Sabarkantha districts of Gujarat, the medical department has increased vigilance in the border areas of Kherwara and Nayagaon.

What is Chandipura Virus?

The Chandipura virus was first discovered in 1965 and is named after Chandipura village in Maharashtra. It belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family, which also includes the virus that causes rabies. The word "Rhabdo" means "rod-shaped" in Greek, referring to the bullet-like shape of the virus. This was explained by scientists AB Sudeep, YK Gurav, and VP Bondre in a 2016 article in the Indian Journal of Medical Research.

The virus is spread by certain types of insects. These include Phlebotomine sandflies, Phlebotomus papatasi, and some mosquito species like Aedes aegypti, which also spreads dengue. The virus lives in the salivary glands of these insects and can be transmitted to humans and other animals through bites.

Child Dies in Balicha

A child in Balicha died from the virus, and a girl in Akhepura is suspected to be infected. In response, CMHO Dr. Shankarlal Bamniya visited the area on Thursday, July 18,2024.

Dr. Bamniya instructed local officials to stay alert and cancelled the leave of all subordinate staff until further notice. He ordered the staff to be present at the headquarters, take blood samples of all patients, and report any cases with virus symptoms to higher authorities.

Additionally, Dr. Bamniya reviewed the preparedness of medical institutions in the affected areas.

The number of suspected cases of Chandipura Viral Encephalitis (CHPV) in Gujarat increased to 20 on Thursday. This includes two deaths reported from Ahmedabad city. Additionally, 35 people showing symptoms of CHPV are currently admitted to various civil hospitals across the districts. 

Symptoms of the Virus

The virus causes sudden flu-like symptoms such as high fever, seizures, diarrhea, vomiting, convulsions, and confusion. In severe cases, it can lead to coma and death. According to scientists studying the virus, the main cause of death for most infected people is encephalitis, which is the swelling of the brain.

Source: Dainik Bhaskar