Gujarat has reported 22 deaths among children due to the Chandipura virus (CHPV) during the ongoing monsoon season, prompting the state health department to strengthen surveillance, treatment, and vector-control measures. So far, 35 of the 184 suspected cases have tested positive for the virus, while the results of 11 samples are still awaited.
According to a report published by The Economic Times, all confirmed cases involve children below 15 years of age. Seven patients are currently undergoing treatment at civil hospitals in districts including Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Sabarkantha-Himmatnagar, Patan, and Bhavnagar, where specialist teams are closely monitoring their condition.
State Steps Up Preventive Measures
Health officials have instructed both government and private paediatric hospitals to immediately admit children showing symptoms of the infection to intensive care units equipped with oxygen and ventilator support. Early treatment is considered critical to prevent severe complications such as multiple organ failure.
Meanwhile, health teams have intensified pesticide spraying in livestock-rearing areas to control sandflies, the primary vectors responsible for transmitting the virus. Authorities noted that cases have emerged from different parts of the state rather than being concentrated in a single locality, making surveillance and contact tracing more challenging.
About Chandipura Virus
Chandipura virus is an insect-borne viral infection that primarily spreads through sandflies and can cause acute encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. The virus was first identified in Chandipura village in Maharashtra’s Nagpur district in 1965. Health experts have urged parents to seek immediate medical attention if children develop symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, seizures, or altered consciousness during the monsoon season.