22 children die of Chandipura virus in Gujarat, 7 under treatment

Gujarat Health Minister Praful Panseriya said all confirmed patients are below the age of 15 and clarified that the infections are not concentrated in any one village or district.

In Short

• Test results of eleven suspected samples are still pending
• 6 infected children have recovered, 7 remain in hospital care
• Health teams increased surveillance and insecticide spraying

The Chandipura virus has claimed the lives of 22 children in Gujarat this monsoon season, with 35 infections confirmed out of 184 suspected cases reported so far, state Health Minister Praful Panseriya said on Monday.

Test results of 11 samples are still awaited.

Seven children who tested positive are currently undergoing treatment at civil hospitals across the state, while six patients have recovered and been discharged. Children admitted to hospitals in Gandhinagar, Sabarkantha-Himmatnagar, Patan, Rajkot and Bhavnagar are receiving specialised treatment under the supervision of expert doctors, he said.

The minister said all confirmed patients are below the age of 15 and clarified that the infections are not concentrated in any one village or district. Cases have been reported from different parts of Gujarat, prompting health authorities to remain on high alert.

To curb the spread of the virus, health department teams have intensified surveillance and launched large-scale insecticide spraying, particularly in livestock-rearing areas where sandflies — the primary carriers of the virus — are commonly found. Residents have also been advised to seal cracks in mud houses and walls, which can serve as breeding spots for the insects.

The government has directed all government and private paediatric hospitals to immediately admit children showing symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, seizures or altered consciousness to intensive care units equipped with oxygen and ventilator support. Early treatment is crucial to prevent severe complications, including multiple organ failure, officials said.

There is currently no specific vaccine or antiviral treatment for the Chandipura virus.
Gujarat Health Minister Praful Panseriya urged people not to panic or pay attention to rumours and appealed to parents to seek immediate medical attention if children develop symptoms. He also asked citizens to cooperate with health teams conducting surveillance and preventive measures.

Chandipura encephalitis is a rare viral disease that primarily spreads through sandflies and causes inflammation of the brain. The virus was first identified in Chandipura village in Maharashtra's Nagpur district in 1965. It mainly affects children and can progress rapidly if not treated in time.

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