The Chandipura virus is suspected to have spread across multiple districts in Gujarat.
Gujarat is going through itsworst outbreak of Chandipura virus and viral encephalitis, in which 73 people have died so far.
The disease hasspread to more thantwo dozen districts,and cities such as
Ahmedabad, Rajkot,and Jamnagar.
Chandipura virus:
1.The virus is a member of the Vesiculovirus genus of the family Rhabdoviridae. Incidentally this family also includes the rabies virus.
2.The virus resides in the salivary gland of these insects, and can be transmitted to humans or other vertebrates like domestic animals through bites.
3.The Chandipura virus, was first isolated in 1965, from the blood of two adults with a febrile illness in a village in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
4.The virus is reportedly named after the village it was isolated from. The other instance when the virus was isolated in human beings was in 1980, in Madhya Pradesh from a patient with acute encephalitis.
Transmission of Chandipura Virus:
-The virus is vector-borne, with the likely vector believed to be the female Phlebotomine sandfly, insects that are prevalent in the early monsoon period.
-It said several species of mosquitoes replicated and transmitted the virus experimentally, and among the different mosquito species studied, Aedes aegypti, (which also transmits dengue), was found to be highly susceptible and could transmit the virus more efficiently than others, under laboratory conditions.
– However it said no isolation of the virus from the mosquito had been reported as of then.
Symptoms associated with Chandipura Virus:
1.Rapid onset of fever
2.The fever is followed by vomiting
altered sensorium (a change in mental status or consciousness)
3.Convulsions, diarrhoea
4.Neurological deficit (examples include an inability to speak, loss of balance, vision changes)
5.Meningeal irritation (signs may include headaches, neck stiffness, photophobia and seizures).
6.This infection has largely remained limited to children below 15 years.
Treatment:
Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for CHPV, so care is just preventive and supportive.
Diagnosis:
Laboratory Tests: Diagnosis is confirmed through laboratory tests including RT-PCR, virus isolation, and serological tests such as ELISA to detect specific antibodies.
Way forward
The Chandipura virus poses a serious public health challenge due to its nature as it not an already prevalent infection. There is high mortality rate, especially among children which needs to be addressed.
Firstly, by spreading awareness among the people about the spread and prevention.
Secondly, there is a need to put in efforts in research and development regarding it’s treatment.