Chandipura Virus Outbreak: Centre Launches Emergency Response in Gujarat, Rajasthan - Video

The Union Health Ministry has deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to Gujarat and Rajasthan as Chandipura Virus Disease (CHPV) continues to spread, with Gujarat reporting 35 laboratory-confirmed cases and 22 child deaths this monsoon season. Seven children are currently undergoing treatment, according to the state government. The multidisciplinary team, comprising experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), is leading an extensive scientific investigation. Continuous surveillance under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and activation of the NCDC's Public Health Emergency Operations Centre are supporting outbreak control efforts.

The investigation aims to understand the virus's transmission, clinical features and possible treatment strategies. While sandflies are the known carriers of CHPV, researchers are also examining whether mosquitoes, ticks and mites may contribute to its spread. Health officials have urged caution, stating that no conclusions about the current outbreak's transmission cycle should be drawn until laboratory investigations are complete. The ministry stressed that early containment through surveillance, vector control and public awareness is essential to prevent further child deaths, reduce community transmission and support ongoing scientific research into the disease, according to an NDTV report.