6 more children die of suspected Chandipura virus infection in Gujarat, toll reaches 12

Four children died on July 10 from what the paediatricians at the Himatnagar Civil Hospital assumed to be the Chandipura virus. (Representative Image)

Six children in Gujarat have died of suspected Chandipura viral infection since July 10, taking the total number of cases to 12 so far, state Health Minister Rushikesh Patel informed. Samples from all the victims have been sent to Pune's National Institute of Virology (NIV) for confirmation.

The Chandipura virus typically causes fever with flu-like symptoms and can lead to acute encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. It is transmitted through vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and sand flies.

The pathogen is a member of the Vesiculovirus genus of the family Rhabdoviridae.

Patel said four of the 12 patients were from Sabarkantha district, three from Aravalli, one each from Mahisagar and Kheda in Gujarat, while two patients were from Rajasthan and one from Madhya Pradesh. They received treatment in Gujarat.

"Six deaths due to suspected Chandipura virus have been reported in the state, but only after results of the samples it will be clear whether they were caused by the Chandipura virus," he said in a statement.

"Five out of the last six deaths have been reported from the civil hospital in Himatnagar in Sabarkantha district. All 12 samples, including eight patients at the civil hospital in Sabarkantha, have been sent to Pune's National Institute of Virology (NIV) for confirmation," Patel said.

Four children died on July 10 from what the paediatricians at the Himatnagar Civil Hospital assumed to be the Chandipura virus. They submitted samples of the victims to NIV for verification. Subsequently, the symptoms of four additional hospitalised youngsters were identical.

"There is no spread of the Chandipura virus. Nonetheless, close observation has been maintained in the impacted regions. In 4,487 homes, we have screened 18,646 people. The health agency is preventing the sickness from spreading around the clock," stated Patel.

With inputs from agencies