Gujarat Confirms 35 Chandipura Virus Cases, 22 Children Dead

Gujarat has recorded 22 deaths among children due to the Chandipura virus (CHPV) during the ongoing monsoon season, prompting the state government to strengthen surveillance, treatment protocols, and vector-control measures.

Chandipura encephalitis is a rare but potentially fatal viral disease that primarily affects children. It is spread mainly through sandflies and certain other insects and causes inflammation of the brain, often progressing rapidly if left untreated. The virus was first identified in 1965 in Chandipura village in Maharashtra's Nagpur district.

State Health Minister Praful Panseriya said on Monday that 184 suspected cases have been reported so far, of which 35 have tested positive for the virus. Test results for 11 additional samples are still pending, while seven children remain under treatment at civil hospitals in Gandhinagar, Rajkot, and other districts.

According to the minister, all affected patients are below the age of 15 years. Children admitted to government hospitals in Gandhinagar, Sabarkantha-Himmatnagar, Patan, Rajkot, and Bhavnagar are receiving specialised medical care under continuous monitoring by expert doctors.

Authorities said infections have emerged from multiple locations across the state, indicating that cases are not concentrated in any single village or district. In response, the Health Department has directed both government and private paediatric hospitals to immediately admit children showing symptoms of the virus to intensive care units (ICUs) equipped with oxygen and ventilator support. The move aims to ensure early intervention and reduce the risk of severe complications, including multiple organ failure.

As part of the public health response, health teams have intensified pesticide spraying in areas with significant animal husbandry activity to control sandflies, the primary vectors responsible for transmitting the virus.

Health authorities have urged parents to seek immediate medical attention if children develop symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, seizures, or altered consciousness, particularly during the monsoon season when vector activity increases.