Chandipura Virus Claims Eight Lives in Gujarat: Health Minister

Two more children died of suspected Chandipura virus infection in Gujarat, raising the death toll to eight. In total, 14 cases have been reported, including fatal cases in Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Kheda, Mehsana, and Rajkot districts. The state has intensified surveillance and issued advisories to healthcare facilities.

Two more children have succumbed to the suspected Chandipura virus in Gujarat, escalating the state's fatality count to eight, Health Minister Rushikesh Patel reported on Tuesday.

The total number of recorded infections now stands at 14, with cases emerging from various districts including Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Kheda, Mehsana, and Rajkot. Patel highlighted that three cases from neighboring states—two from Rajasthan and one from Madhya Pradesh—had received treatment in Gujarat hospitals, with one Rajasthan patient having perished.

The state health department has ramped up surveillance efforts across affected regions, advising community and primary health centers, sub-district hospitals, and medical colleges to urgently treat suspect cases. The minister emphasized the disease’s high mortality rate and the critical need for prompt treatment.

In a precautionary step, screenings of over 44,000 individuals in 8,600 homes across 26 residential zones have been conducted. The virus, which is transmitted through vectors like mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies, bears flu-like symptoms and can lead to acute encephalitis. Blood samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for confirmation, with results pending.