Top News

Special Health and National Reporter, Gandhinagar: The rising number of cases of Chandipura Virus (CHPV) in western states, including Gujarat, and the tragic deaths of several innocent children have raised widespread concern among health agencies and the public. Primarily affecting children under the age of 15, this virus attacks the body so rapidly that the affected child is quickly engulfed in fever and falls into a coma. Dozens of cases have been reported in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Panchmahal, Banaskantha, and Rajkot districts, with over 22 children confirmed dead so far. Given the severity of the situation, teams from the Union Health Ministry and the National Institute of Virology (NIV Pune) of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have deployed to affected areas and issued an alert to neighboring states to remain vigilant.

Chandipura virus is not a completely new virus, but its aggressiveness and high mortality rate make it extremely dangerous. This virus was first identified in 1965 in Chandipura village in Nagpur district, Maharashtra, after which it was named. It belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family, which is to the rabies virus family. The infection is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of a Phlebotomine sandfly. Aedes mosquitoes and ticks are also considered secondary vectors.

According to health experts, Chandipura virus attacks children very quickly. Its initial symptoms include a sudden high fever (high-grade Sudden Fever), headache, persistent vomiting, and extreme lethargy or irritability. Upon entering the body, the virus directly targets the central nervous system, causing severe brain inflammation (Acute Encephalitis Syndrome – AES). As the disease progresses, the child begins experiencing convulsions and loses their mental balance. If timely intensive care (ICU care) is not provided, the child falls into a coma within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of symptoms and dies due to organ failure.

How to protect your children from Chandipura virus? Know the dos and don’ts of Chandipura virus as soon as symptoms appear.

According to medical science, there is currently no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine available for Chandipura virus. Therefore, prompt symptom-based treatment and preventive measures are the only means to save children’s lives. Pediatricians clearly state that time is the most crucial factor in this disease, and any delay can prove fatal.

Sand Fly Prevention and Surrounding Cleanliness:

Since the sandfly is the primary carrier of the Chandipura virus, eliminating its breeding grounds is a primary step. Sandflies are commonly found in cracks in mud walls, piles of soil, dung, and dark, damp areas. Seal cracks in your home and surrounding walls with lime or cement. Cooperate with Malathion or other insecticide spraying campaigns conducted by the Health Department.

Personal Protection for Children:

Children under 15 years of age, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, should wear long-sleeved clothing and full pants when playing outside in the morning and evening. Use insect repellent or fly-repellent on children’s exposed body parts. Always ensure children sleep under a mosquito net at night.

Immediately seek medical attention as soon as symptoms appear:

If a child suddenly develops symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, lethargy, accompanied by unconsciousness or seizures, immediately consult a pediatrician at the nearest Primary Health Center (PHC) or a large government/private hospital without delay or resorting to quackery or witch doctors. Early management of brain swelling and maintaining fluid balance in the child’s body can save the child’s life.

Due to the high mortality rate of Chandipura virus, which ranges from 50 to 70 percent, the administration is conducting door-to-door surveys in affected areas and sending blood samples of children with fever for testing. The health department has appealed to parents not to panic, but to exercise caution and maintain proper sanitation around them.