Latest news with #Chandipura
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Has Chandipura changed its pattern? ICMR teams visit Gujarat as samples of all 14 deceased children test negative for virus
With samples of children, who died of suspected Chandipura virus over the last few weeks, testing negative for the infection, teams of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) visited Gujarat earlier in July in a bid to study the 'changing pattern' of the viral encephalitis. The teams collected samples of sandflies, domestic animals and residents from villages where suspected Chandipura deaths among children have been reported since June this year. the ICMR teams camped in four districts of the state – Panchmahal, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Valsad – and studied the pattern of the virus. According to officials in Panchmahal, the ICMR team visited the district last week to gather samples of sandflies, ticks, mosquitoes and other vectors along with the that of domesticated animals and cattle, rats and human beings from the areas where four deaths have been reported. Panchmahal Chief District Health Officer Dr Vipul Gamit told The Indian Express, 'The ICMR team has gathered samples of those in the vicinity of the family that witnessed a death in the last month. They will be studied for antibodies — IgM and IgG — to understand the spread of the virus. There is a changing pattern in the virus… the same case with Japanese encephalitis, which in the recent past, has not been detected positive in laboratory tests.' Dr Gamit said that much like 2024, the Chandipura suspected cases —that later turned out to be negative after tests in Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) — emerged sporadically from villages that were unrelated to one another. 'In one case, of a five-year-old boy from Panchmahal who died, and later tested negative, the other two children living in the same house — his cousins aged 7 and 8 — did not have any symptoms and are doing well,' Dr Gamit said, adding that the symptoms include high-grade fever, convulsions, followed by diarrhoea with 'little or no time' for medical response. 'Once the respiratory organs are involved, the children cannot be saved,' he added. Teams of ICMR also visited Bhavnagar, Valsad and Rajkot to collect samples of the vectors and other residents in close proximity to the deceased. Officials of the Gujarat government's medical department said that the ICMR will take the samples to its laboratory in Puducherry to check if the pattern of the virus has changed in the current season. An official said, 'The sudden increase in the number of negative cases of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), which are not showing a positive report, has prompted the ICMR to send across a team this year to study the pattern of the virus. Specific villages in certain areas where the cases have been high have been selected by the ICMR teams for the study.' Vadodara's SSG hospital has recorded 14 deaths out of the 24 cases, including a 1.5 year old infant from Dahod, of suspected Chandipura reported this year. In-charge Medical Superintendent and Dean of Baroda Medical College, Dr Ranjan Aiyer, said, 'Every year, around June, in the month of monsoon, Chandipura cases occur due to vectors and sandflies, especially among people living in mud houses in rural areas… This year, we received unknown virulent cases of around 24 children, who presented similar symptoms, particularly in areas of Panchmahal-Dahod and even Madhya Pradesh. They deteriorated very rapidly despite a paediatric team treating them.. However, all samples have tested negative for Chandipura.' What is Chandipura virus? Chandipura virus belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family, which includes rabies. It is transmitted by sandflies and mosquitoes, including Aedes aegypti, which is also a vector for dengue. The virus resides in the salivary glands of these insects and can be transmitted to humans or domestic animals through bites. The infection can lead to encephalitis and inflammation of the brain's active tissues. The symptoms include high-grade fever, convulsions, followed by diarrhoea with 'little or no time' for medical response, according to Panchmahal Chief District Health Officer Dr Vipul Gamit. The Chandipura virus was discovered in 1965, in the blood of two individuals suffering from febrile sickness, in a hamlet of the same name near Nagpur, Maharashtra.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Brain fever claims lives of four children
Vadodara: Three children died in Panchmahal district and one in Dahod due to viral encephalitis during one week. The latest death was of a one-year-old boy from Dahod district at the SSG Hospital (SSGH) in Vadodara. The first deaths were reported from three different talukas in Panchmahal district. In all, four children were affected due to encephalitis in the district. While one of them was brought to SSGH and is under treatment there, three others died. The deceased children from Panchmahal are all boys, including two three-year-olds from Khajuri village in Godhra taluka and Jambudi in Halol taluka. An eight-year-old from Dokva in Shehra taluka also died due to encephalitis in the district. An eight-year-old girl from Betiya in Godhra taluka was admitted to the SSGH. Panchmahal chief district health officer (CDHO) Dr Vipul Gamit told media persons that the reports of the three deceased arrived and they tested negative for Chandipura virus. Serious cases of viral encephalitis due to the virus are reported in the district ahead of the monsoon. The test reports of the girl from Betiya admitted to SSGH are awaited. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Vargem Alegre (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo Teams of experts from different institutes and departments surveyed houses in the localities from where cases were reported. Sandflies, which make homes in the cracks in walls of houses, spread Chandipura virus. SSGH officials said a one-year-old boy from Zalod in Dahod district died due to viral encephalitis at the hospital on Saturday. Three children are being treated at the hospital even as one was discharged on Saturday. Officials said that early treatment of high-grade fever cases can avoid complications.
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Favipiravir drug shows promise against Chandipura virus in preclinical studies by NIV
Anti-viral drug Favipiravir has been found to have the potential to provide substantial protection against the Chandipura virus in the preclinical studies conducted by the Pune-based National Institute of Virology(NIV). The Chandipura virus (CHPV) is endemic in central India and symptoms include high fever and seizures. The infection also induces encephalitis. Studies on mice have shown that Favipiravir can reduce viral load and improve survival rates in infected animals, Naveen Kumar, director of NIV, which is under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), told PTI. The virus was identified during 1965 in Maharashtra from clinical samples of febrile cases. The first significant outbreak was recorded in 2003 in Telangana, which was then part of Andhra Pradesh. It infected over 300 children with more than 50 per cent fatality. Cases were also reported from Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, Telangana and Gujarat between 2003 and 2007. Even 2007 onwards sporadic cases from endemic regions were reported. In 2024, a major outbreak was reported from Gujarat and adjoining areas of Maharashtra which the WHO described as the largest outbreak in the past 20 years. It emerged to be a major threat for the paediatric population with 64 laboratory confirmed cases of the infection reported from Gujarat (61 cases) and adjoining areas, r Vijay Bondre, senior scientist at NIV, said. The outbreak was investigated by the National Joint Outbreak Response Team, Dr Bondre said. "The NIV has been working toward identifying potential anti-virals against CHPV. In the search after testing multiple anti-virals, Favipiravir has been identified to give substantial protection against the Chandipura virus infection which has also been established in the preclinical trials in the laboratory," explained Dr Kumar. So far the findings suggest that Favipiravir could be a potential therapeutic option for these infections, he said. "Clinical trials on humans are yet to be carried out to confirm its efficacy and safety in humans," Dr Kumar stated. Dr Bondre said before proceeding to testing on human, the efficacy of the drug against CHPV on animals will be re-established at another organisation - ICMR-National Animal Research Facility for Biological research. This will take another seven to eight months. Currently, the infection is managed through symptomatic treatment and there is no particular drug which is used for its treatment. In addition to it, the NIV has initiated research to develop a vaccine candidate against CHPV. The research will be of great help to the nation to minimise the high fatality due this infection among children, Dr Kumar said. The CHPV is a member of Rhabdoviridae family and is transmitted by arthropod vectors, most probably sand flies. Vector control, hygiene and awareness are the only measures available against the disease. 'The disease affects mostly children under 15 years of age and can present with a febrile illness that may progress to convulsions, coma and in some cases may result in death, Dr Bondre said.
Deccan Herald
24-06-2025
- Health
- Deccan Herald
Favipiravir drug shows promise against Chandipura virus in preclinical studies by NIV
The Chandipura virus (CHPV) is endemic in central India and symptoms include high fever and seizures. The infection also induces encephalitis.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Favipiravir drug shows promise against Chandipura virus in preclinical studies by NIV
Anti-viral drug Favipiravir has been found to have the potential to provide substantial protection against the Chandipura virus in the preclinical studies conducted by the Pune-based National Institute of Virology(NIV). The Chandipura virus (CHPV) is endemic in central India and symptoms include high fever and seizures. The infection also induces encephalitis. Studies on mice have shown that Favipiravir can reduce viral load and improve survival rates in infected animals, Dr Naveen Kumar, Director of NIV, which is under the Indian Council of Medical Research ( ICMR ), told PTI. The virus was identified during 1965 in Maharashtra from clinical samples of febrile cases. The first significant outbreak was recorded in 2003 in Telangana, which was then part of Andhra Pradesh. It infected over 300 children with more than 50 per cent fatality. Live Events Cases were also reported from Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, Telangana and Gujarat between 2003 and 2007. Even 2007 onwards sporadic cases from endemic regions were reported. In 2024, a major outbreak was reported from Gujarat and adjoining areas of Maharashtra which the WHO described as the largest outbreak in the past 20 years. It emerged to be a major threat for the paediatric population with 64 laboratory confirmed cases of the infection reported from Gujarat (61 cases) and adjoining areas, Dr Vijay Bondre, senior scientist at NIV, said. The outbreak was investigated by the National Joint Outbreak Response Team, Dr Bondre said. "The NIV has been working toward identifying potential anti-virals against CHPV. In the search after testing multiple anti-virals, Favipiravir has been identified to give substantial protection against the Chandipura virus infection which has also been established in the preclinical trials in the laboratory," explained Dr Kumar. So far the findings suggest that Favipiravir could be a potential therapeutic option for these infections, he said. "Clinical trials on humans are yet to be carried out to confirm its efficacy and safety in humans," Dr Kumar stated. Dr Bondre said before proceeding to testing on human, the efficacy of the drug against CHPV on animals will be re-established at another organisation - ICMR-National Animal Research Facility for Biological research. This will take another seven to eight months. Currently, the infection is managed through symptomatic treatment and there is no particular drug which is used for its treatment. In addition to it, the NIV has initiated research to develop a vaccine candidate against CHPV. The research will be of great help to the nation to minimise the high fatality due this infection among children, Dr Kumar said. The CHPV is a member of Rhabdoviridae family and is transmitted by arthropod vectors, most probably sand flies. Vector control, hygiene and awareness are the only measures available against the disease. The disease affects mostly children under 15 years of age and can present with a febrile illness that may progress to convulsions, coma and in some cases may result in death, Dr Bondre said.
