Gujarat reports 22 child deaths in Chandipura outbreak

An outbreak of the rare Chandipura virus has killed at least 22 children in the Indian state of Gujarat, health officials confirmed on Monday, August 3. The state's health minister, Praful Panseriya, reported that 35 cases have been confirmed out of 184 suspected infections, with test results for 11 more cases pending. All of the affected patients are under the age of 15.

The infections are spread across multiple districts, including Gandhinagar, Sabarkantha, Patan, Rajkot, and Bhavnagar, and are not confined to a single village or locality. Seven children remain hospitalized and are receiving specialized care, with their conditions being closely monitored by medical teams.

The Chandipura virus, first identified in 1965, is transmitted primarily through the bite of infected sandflies. It causes encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, and symptoms can escalate rapidly, including high fever, severe headache, vomiting, seizures, and altered consciousness. There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine; care focuses on supportive measures such as hospitalization, oxygen therapy, and management of symptoms.

In response to the outbreak, which has coincided with the monsoon...