22 children die of Chandipura virus in Gujarat this monsoon
Gujarat has reported 184 suspected cases of the virus so far, of which 35 have tested positive, while the results of 11 samples are awaited, Health Minister Praful Panseriya said
A devastating outbreak of the Chandipura virus has claimed the lives of 22 young children in Gujarat this monsoon season, with seven others currently receiving medical care, State Health Minister Praful Panseriya reported on August 3, 2026. The state has recorded 184 suspected cases of the virus, 35 of which have tested positive, while results for 11 samples are still pending.
All affected patients are under the age of 15. The minister disclosed that the patients are being treated in civil hospitals located in major cities such as Gandhinagar, Himmatnagar, Patan, Rajkot, and Bhavnagar.
The minister emphasized that the affected children are being provided with specialized treatment and are under close monitoring by doctors. The affected areas are not limited to a single village; rather, cases have been reported from various parts of the state. In an effort to curb the spread of the virus, health teams are conducting pesticide spraying in regions with animal husbandry activities to control the sandflies that transmit the disease.
The Health Department has further directed all government and private pediatric hospitals to admit children exhibiting symptoms of the infection immediately to intensive care units equipped with oxygen and ventilator support to prevent complications like multi-organ failure.
Chandipura encephalitis is a viral disease that leads to brain inflammation and is primarily transmitted by sandflies and other insects. The virus was first identified in 1965 in Chandipura village in Maharashtra’s Nagpur district.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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