Gujarat Chandipura virus outbreak kills three children, spurs intensified surveillance

Three children have died and six others tested positive for the Chandipura virus in Gujarat, according to State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya. Health officials identified 17 suspected cases among children, with 10 testing negative and the remaining six receiving treatment. The fatalities include two children in Panchmahal district and a six‑year‑old from Rajasthan treated in Sabarkantha district.

Authorities have launched an intensive response: door‑to‑door screening in affected villages, laboratory testing of samples, insecticide spraying to control sand‑fly vectors, and the establishment of dedicated hospital wards. Vector‑control measures such as spraying, sealing cracks in mud houses and public awareness campaigns are underway across Sabarkantha, Panchmahal and other districts. Because there is no specific antiviral drug or vaccine, treatment is supportive, and officials urge parents to seek immediate care for symptoms like sudden fever, vomiting, seizures or loss of consciousness. The outbreak follows Gujarat’s largest Chandipura virus surge in 2024, prompting continued heightened surveillance during the monsoon season.