NEW DELHI: Health officials in India’s western state of Gujarat said on Saturday that the death toll due to suspected Chandipura virus infection has risen to 48. The outbreak has seen a steady increase in cases over recent weeks, raising significant concerns among public health officials and the local population.
According to Gujarat’s Health Minister Rushikesh Patel, the state has registered a total of 133 cases of Chandipura virus. The virus is suspected to be responsible for a majority of the 48 deaths reported due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) over the past month.
The federal health ministry describes AES as a group of neurologic manifestations caused by various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and toxins. In Gujarat, 39 of the 127 reported AES cases have tested positive for Chandipura virus. The affected regions include Sabarkantha and Pachmahal with six cases each, Aravalli and Kheda with three each, Mehsana with four, Ahmedabad city with three, and Dahod with two cases, among others.
The first death due to Chandipura virus in the state was confirmed on July 17, when a four-year-old child named Mota Kanthariya succumbed to the virus at a government hospital in Sabarkantha.
Chandipura virus, primarily affecting children under 15, is known for causing severe neurological symptoms. The virus, transmitted primarily by sandflies, initially presents with high fever, severe headache, and muscle pain. As the infection progresses, it can lead to altered consciousness, seizures, coma, and potentially death.
Currently, 54 patients remain hospitalized, while 26 have been discharged. The state has implemented a range of measures to address the outbreak. Health officials have conducted some preventive actions, such as dusting and spraying insecticides in nearly 500,000 houses, over 19,000 schools, and more than 21,000 Anganwadis (community centers for children and mothers) across the state.
Malathion fogging and spraying have been carried out in approximately 496,676 households and 19,862 schools to control the sandfly and mosquito population, which are believed to be significant vectors for the disease.
