Chandipura Virus Outbreak: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention As Gujarat, Rajasthan Battle CHPV Surge

Gujarat and Rajasthan are grappling with a fresh outbreak of Chandipura Virus Disease (CHPV) this monsoon season, with Gujarat reporting 35 laboratory confirmed infections and 22 child deaths so far. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to both states to strengthen surveillance, treatment and containment efforts. Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said on Monday that seven children remain under treatment, while several others have already been discharged. As health authorities race to identify the exact transmission cycle behind the outbreak, here is a detailed look at what Chandipura virus is, its causes, symptoms, treatment options and prevention tips.

What Is Chandipura Virus

Chandipura virus (CHPV) is a rare RNA virus belonging to the Rhabdoviridae family, the same family associated with the rabies virus, though it causes an entirely different illness, reported NDTV. It was first identified in 1965 during an outbreak of encephalitis in Chandipura village, Maharashtra, from where it gets its name. The virus primarily affects children under 15 years of age and causes Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), a rapid inflammation of the brain. Chandipura Virus: Health Ministry Deploys National Outbreak Team in Gujarat and Rajasthan As Probe Intensifies.

Causes And Transmission

Sandflies of the Phlebotomus genus are recognised as the established vectors of Chandipura virus, though the ministry said scientists are also examining whether mosquitoes, ticks and mites may play a role in transmission. The virus is believed to be zoonotic in origin, meaning it circulates in animal populations before spilling over to humans. Officials have stressed that no conclusions should be drawn on the exact vector until laboratory investigations, currently underway on large numbers of collected samples, are completed. The disease is not contagious and does not spread from person to person. Chandipura Virus in Gujarat: Symptoms, Who’s Most at Risk, Treatment and Preventive Measures.

Symptoms To Watch Out For

Chandipura virus infection typically begins with sudden high fever, severe headache, vomiting and flu-like symptoms that can easily be mistaken for common seasonal illness. However, the disease is marked by extremely rapid progression, with neurological deterioration often setting in within 24 to 48 hours of the first symptom. Warning signs that need immediate medical attention include seizures, confusion, excessive drowsiness, altered mental status and, in severe cases, coma.

Treatment Options

There is currently no specific antiviral drug or vaccine available for Chandipura virus. Treatment relies entirely on supportive care, including hospitalisation, hydration therapy, fever management with antipyretics and seizure control using anticonvulsants. Doctors say early detection and prompt hospitalisation significantly improve chances of survival, making it critical for parents to seek medical help the moment a child develops fever accompanied by vomiting, seizures or unusual drowsiness, particularly during the monsoon months.

Prevention Tips

Since the virus spreads primarily through insect bites, prevention efforts focus on reducing vector exposure. Recommended measures include using insect repellents, wearing long sleeved clothing, sleeping under fine mesh bed nets, sealing cracks in walls where sandflies can breed, eliminating standing water around homes and maintaining basic hygiene such as regular handwashing.

Government Response

The multidisciplinary NJORT comprises experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD). Continuous surveillance is being carried out under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), and the NCDC's Public Health Emergency Operations Centre has been activated to support the response. Experts from ICMR institutes in Chennai, Puducherry, Pune and Hyderabad, along with the ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics, Bengaluru, are working alongside the Gujarat Health Department to study the virus's transmission dynamics, clinical spectrum and potential treatment approaches.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 07, 2026 10:39 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).