Chandipura Virus Claims First Life in Gujarat: Four-Year-Old Girl Among Eight Fatalities

A four-year-old girl has become the first confirmed fatality due to the Chandipura virus in Gujarat. There have been eight deaths out of 14 suspected cases. The virus, causing encephalitis-like symptoms, is transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies. Screening measures have been intensified in affected areas.

A four-year-old girl has succumbed to the Chandipura virus infection, marking Gujarat's first confirmed fatality from the disease, a health official said. The case is part of eight deaths reported out of 14 suspected infections in the state. Testing was conducted by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, confirmed Health Minister Rushikesh Patel.

"The sample of the four-year-old girl from Aravalli's Mota Kanthariya village, who died at Himatnagar civil hospital in Sabarkantha district, tested positive for Chandipura virus. This marks the first death due to Chandipura virus infection in the state," stated Sabarkantha's Chief District Health Officer, Raj Sutariya.

Additional samples from Sabarkantha district came back negative, with one death and two recoveries. The suspected cases span Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Kheda, Mehsana, and Rajkot districts, confirmed Patel. The state hospitals have also treated patients from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Health screenings of over 44,000 individuals have been conducted as a preventive measure.

The Chandipura virus, known for causing fever and encephalitis, belongs to the Vesiculovirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family and is spread by mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies. Previous outbreaks in 2003-2004 in Central India had fatality rates of 56-75 percent.

(With inputs from agencies.)