A six-year-old boy from Rajasthan died at the Civil Hospital, Himmatnagar, in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat, after being diagnosed with Chandipura virus (CHPV) infection.
Chandipura virus (CHPV) is endemic in India, with sporadic cases and outbreaks reported regularly, particularly during the monsoon season.
The virus belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family and is known to cause Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), especially in western, central, and southern India.
CHPV is transmitted through vector-borne transmission, primarily by sandflies, mosquitoes and ticks
In Gujarat, the sandfly Phlebotomus papatasi has been identified as the principal vector responsible for transmitting the virus.
The disease has a high case-fatality rate, estimated at 56–75%, particularly among children.
At present, there is no specific antiviral treatment or licensed vaccine available for Chandipura virus infection, and management is mainly supportive.
Chandipura virus was first isolated in 1965 from the blood samples of two adults suffering from a febrile illness in a village in Nagpur district, Maharashtra.
Although CHPV has so far been reported only from India, studies suggest that the virus may also be present in parts of Asia and Africa, warranting continued surveillance and research.
Sources: The Hindu, WHO
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