Gujarat, India , 13 August— Health authorities and researchers are struggling to identify the source and transmission route of the Chandipura virus after 25 children died in Gujarat within five weeks of the latest outbreak.
According to the Gujarat government, 39 children have so far tested positive for Chandipura virus infection this year, with 25 of them dying. The outbreak began spreading in the state on June 30.
No Virus Found in Tested Insects
Despite extensive surveillance, researchers have not detected the virus in any of the potential insect vectors tested so far. Thousands of sandflies were initially collected and examined, followed by tests involving mosquitoes and ticks.
More than 1,000 sandfly and other vector samples collected from Gujarat and Rajasthan during the 2024 and 2026 outbreaks have reportedly been tested without finding evidence of the virus.
The biggest question facing researchers is where the virus is actually circulating and multiplying.
Sandflies Under Scrutiny
Sandflies are the known vector associated with Chandipura virus and are commonly found around mud houses, cracks in walls and areas near livestock.
However, this year’s outbreak has raised new questions because sandflies are more prevalent in eastern Gujarat, while infected children have also been reported in the Saurashtra region in western Gujarat.
Researchers therefore suspect that more than one type of vector could potentially be involved in transmitting the virus to humans.
A National Joint Outbreak Response Team, comprising researchers from Gujarat and five national institutions, is currently investigating the outbreak.
Cases Reported Across Gujarat and Rajasthan
Chandipura infections have been reported from 12 districts of Gujarat and three districts of neighbouring Rajasthan. Gujarat’s Patan district has recorded the highest number of cases, with five patients, followed by Sabarkantha with four.
A Gujarat livestock official told The Indian Express that there have been no clear clusters of cases, with individual infections appearing sporadically in different areas. This pattern has led researchers to consider the possibility that the responsible vector may be present only in small numbers.
A Virus That Mainly Affects Children
Chandipura vesiculovirus, or CHPV, primarily affects children under 15. Infection can lead to acute encephalitis syndrome, a severe condition involving inflammation of the brain that can progress rapidly and become fatal.
A similar investigation was conducted during Gujarat’s 2024 outbreak, when 78 children developed symptoms associated with Chandipura virus and 28 died. Researchers were also unable to conclusively identify the virus’s specific vector at that time.
The virus was first identified and documented in 1965 and was named after Chandipura, a small village near Nagpur in Maharashtra.
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