Sandfly‑Borne Chandipur Virus Surge: 27 Fatalities and 41 Confirmed Cases in Gujarat

Gandhinagar, August 15 – Gujarat’s health ministry has disclosed that the Chandipur virus, transmitted by sandflies, has claimed 27 lives and been confirmed in 41 patients through laboratory testing. The figures are part of the ongoing monitoring that commenced on June 30.

By the close of business on August 14, the state had listed 257 probable cases. Of those, 246 samples have already been examined, while results for the remaining 11 are still awaited. The 41 positive outcomes confirm a rapid escalation of the outbreak.

On July 21, the department had reported 63 suspected cases, with 12 later confirmed and eight still pending. In response, authorities widened the surveillance net, conducted door‑to‑door health checks, and launched aggressive sandfly eradication drives around homes and livestock areas.

The Chandipur virus is associated with acute encephalitis syndrome, a condition that mostly endangers children under 15 years of age. Infected sandflies bite humans, introducing the virus that can cause sudden fever, neurological complications, seizures, and potentially fatal outcomes.

Since there is no specific cure or vaccine, medical management is limited to supportive care. Prompt hospital admission when symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, or seizures appear is essential.

Public health advisories stress the importance of personal protection: wearing long sleeves, using bed nets, applying insect repellents, maintaining hygienic surroundings, and supporting community‑wide vector control initiatives.

This episode arrives two years after Gujarat experienced one of the country's most severe Chandipur virus outbreaks, reinforcing the urgency of sustained monitoring and preventive action.