In Gujarat, the state is grappling with a suspected outbreak of the Chandipura virus, which has claimed the lives of six children in the past five days. Health Minister Rushikesh Patel confirmed that the total number of suspected cases has risen to 12. 

The Chandipura virus, a member of the Vesiculovirus genus in the Rhabdoviridae family, presents symptoms similar to flu and can lead to acute encephalitis, characterized by inflammation of the brain. It is spread by vectors like sand flies, ticks, and mosquitoes.

Among the reported cases, four patients are from Sabarkantha district, three from Aravalli, and one each from Mahisagar and Kheda. Additionally, two cases have been recorded from Rajasthan, and one from Madhya Pradesh, with all patients receiving treatment in Gujarat. The majority of the fatalities occurred at the civil hospital in Himatnagar.

Samples from all 12 suspected cases, including eight from Sabarkantha, have been dispatched to Pune’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) for confirmation. Pediatricians first raised the alarm on July 10 when four children displayed symptoms consistent with the virus. Following this, four additional children exhibited similar symptoms at the same hospital.

While the Chandipura virus is not contagious, health authorities have launched intensive surveillance in affected regions, screening over 18,000 individuals in nearly 4,500 homes. The health department is committed to preventing the spread of this virus, working diligently to address the situation.