6 children die of suspected Chandipura virus in Gujarat. Know its symptoms and treatment

At least six children have died in the last five days from suspected Chandipura virus in Gujarat, while the total number of cases has increased to 12, state’s Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said.

“Four of these 12 patients are from Sabarkantha district, three from Aravalli and one each from Mahisagar and Kheda. Two patients are from Rajasthan and one from Madhya Pradesh. They received treatment in Gujarat,” PTI quoted Patel as saying.

The Gujarat minister said that six deaths have been reported due to suspected Chandipura virus. However, only the results of the samples will make it clear whether or not they were caused by the virus.

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The samples have been sent to Pune’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) for confirmation, he added.

Patel said that the virus is not contagious, but “intensive surveillance has been undertaken in the affected areas.” As a precautionary measure, 18,646 persons in 4,487 houses have been screened.

What is the Chandipura Virus?

Chandipura virus (CHPV), a member of the Rhabdoviridae family, is linked to viruses that can cause vesicular stomatitis and rabies.

Initially discovered in 1965 in the Chandipura village of Maharashtra, the pathogen is a member of the Vesiculovirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family and is mainly transmitted by vectors like mosquitoes, ticks and sand flies, reports said.

Acute encephalitis, a brain inflammation that the virus causes, is considered lethal, especially in young patients, Moneycontrol quoted Dr Shreya Dubey, Consultant – Neonatology & Paediatrics, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram as saying.

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Symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms seen among patients include high fever, severe headache, vomiting, convulsions and seizures, and unconsciousness among others.

Prevention

There are several preventive measures essential for parents to shield children against the Chandipura virus infection:

1. Avoid sandfly bites: Children should wear full-sleeved clothes to minimise mosquito bites. Also, people should try to keep their surroundings clean as much as possible.
2. Bed nets: Parents should make sure that the children sleep beneath bed nets, especially in regions where sandflies are prevalent.
3. Clean surroundings: Make sure that there are no potential sandfly breeding grounds near your house like stagnant water, heaps of trash or decomposing organic waste.

Treatment

As of now, there is no specific treatment for the Chandipura virus. A licensed vaccine is said to be the need of the hour to prevent its spread. Early detection, hospitalisation, and symptomatic care are important to prevent fatalities.