What Is Chandipura Virus: All You Need To Know About The Superbug That Consumed 14 Lives. 14 people, including six children, have lost their lives to the deadly Chandipura Virus in the western state of Gujarat, with the latest victim being a four-year-old child. 29 cases of the mysterious but deadly superbug have been reported.
Gujarat’s Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said the health department has kicked off extensive surveillance and control measures. About 18,646 individuals have been screened from 4,487 households. The department has sprayed insecticide in 2,093 households to control the spread of the infection.
The state’s health officials have issued an advisory to the public as a precautionary measure, informing the masses to seek immediate medical attention if they have symptoms such as vomiting, high-grade fever, diarrhoea, convulsions or headache.
Chandipura Virus And Sandflies
This is not the first time that India has witnessed the Chandipura Virus. There were outbreaks of the superbug in Central India in 2003-2004, with high fatality rates in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat with typical encephalitic symptoms.
Virus is spread by sandflies, mosquitoes and ticks. It’s a type of arbovirus, a member of the Rhabdoviridae family that is associated with an encephalitic illness. The name ‘Chandipura’ is associated with the virus as it was first detected in a village called Chandipura in Maharashtra in 1965. There have been no reported cases of this deadly virus outside India.
Children are susceptible to this virus. It should be noted that there are no specific treatments or vaccines available to fight or prevent the Virus.
Symptoms of Chandipura Virus
According to a medical research paper Chandipura Virus symptoms include the sudden onset of a high fever. The patient may experience seizures, diarrhoea, and vomiting. The patient deteriorates rapidly. Patients die because the virus affects the brain.
