The state of Gujarat is grappling with a severe outbreak of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), which has claimed the lives of at least 48 people in the past month. Health department officials attribute a significant portion of these fatalities to the Chandipura virus (CHPV), a dangerous pathogen transmitted by sandflies.

As of Friday, Gujarat has reported a total of 127 AES cases. Among these, 39 have been confirmed as positive for the Chandipura virus. The affected regions include Sabarkantha and Pachmahal with six cases each, Aravalli and Kheda with three each, Mehsana with four, Ahmedabad city with three, and Dahod with two.

The first confirmed death due to the Chandipura virus occurred on July 17, when a four-year-old child, Mota Kanthariya, from Aravalli passed away at a government hospital in Sabarkantha.

Chandipura virus primarily targets children under the age of 15, raising alarm among both health officials and the public. AES, the condition caused by this virus, results in severe inflammation of the brain and can lead to rapid neurological decline. The virus, part of the Rhabdoviridae family, presents with initial symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, and muscle pain. As the illness progresses, it can result in altered consciousness, seizures, and potentially, coma and death.

Currently, 54 patients remain hospitalized, while 26 have been discharged. Efforts to manage the outbreak have intensified, with health officials mobilizing rapid response teams and enhancing surveillance across more than 41,000 households in the affected areas. Extensive preventive measures are also in place, including insecticide treatment in nearly 500,000 houses, over 19,000 schools, and more than 21,000 Anganwadis.

The rapid deterioration caused by the Chandipura virus underscores the urgent need for early detection and prompt treatment to improve patient outcomes.