Chandipura virus infection in Gujarat: Four children have died in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha district due to a suspected infection of Chandipura virus. According to media reports, two children are currently under treatment at the civil hospital at Himmatnagar in the district.
Meanwhile, the local authorities have sent the samples of all the children to the National Institute of Virology for confirmation. According to an Indian Express report, results are expected within four to five days.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Chief District Health Officer of Sabarkantha, Raj Sutariya, said: “Four children have died of suspected infection of Chandipura virus – one from Sabarkantha, two from neighbouring Aravalli and one from Udaipur in Rajasthan.”
After the cases were reported, the local authorities have deployed teams to implement preventive measures, including dusting to kill sandflies in affected areas. The measures include sprinking medicinal powders, mosquito controlling, creating awareness and surveillance of suspected cases.
What is Chandipura virus?
Chandipura virus is a rare and potentially deadly pathogen that causes fever, flu-like symptoms, and acute encephalitis which is the inflammation of the brain. The virus is transmitted through vectors like mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies, and can lead to rapid progression of illness, coma, and even death. The pathogen is a member of the Vesiculovirus genus of the family Rhabdoviridae.
What are the symptoms?
Studies suggest that symptoms are typically influenza-like, but neurologic impairment and a lethal auto-immune encephalitis may develop rapidly which is within the first 24 hours from symptom onset. The case fatality rate in outbreaks have ranged from 56 percent to 75 percent.
The symptoms include:
- sudden high fever
- headache,
- convulsions and vomiting
- sometimes leading to unconsciousness
How Chandipura viral infection is treated?
There is no proper treatment. However, timely detection, hospitalisation and symptomatic treatment can prevent deaths.