The Chandipura virus has claimed the lives of 22 children in Gujarat during the current monsoon season, with 35 confirmed infections recorded out of 184 suspected cases so far, state Health Minister Praful Panseriya said on Monday.
Test reports for 11 samples are still pending.
At present, seven children who tested positive are undergoing treatment at civil hospitals across the state, while six have recovered and been discharged. Patients admitted to hospitals in Gandhinagar, Sabarkantha-Himmatnagar, Patan, Rajkot and Bhavnagar are receiving specialised care under the supervision of expert doctors, the minister said.
Panseriya stated that all confirmed cases involve children below the age of 15 and clarified that the infections are spread across different parts of Gujarat rather than being confined to a single village or district. Health authorities remain on high alert in response to the reported cases.
To contain the spread of the virus, health department teams have stepped up surveillance and intensified insecticide spraying, especially 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 act as breeding grounds for the insects.
The state government has instructed 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. Officials stressed that early treatment is essential to prevent serious complications, including multiple organ failure.
There is currently no specific vaccine or antiviral treatment available for the Chandipura virus.
Health Minister Praful Panseriya urged the public not to panic or believe rumours and appealed to parents to seek immediate medical care if their children develop symptoms. He also called on citizens to cooperate with health teams engaged in surveillance and preventive measures.
Chandipura encephalitis is a rare viral disease transmitted primarily through sandflies that causes inflammation of the brain. The virus was first identified in 1965 in Chandipura village in Maharashtra's Nagpur district. It mainly affects children and can progress rapidly if timely treatment is not provided.
