Chandipura Virus Disease (CHPV)
Why in News?
- Chandipura Virus Disease (CHPV) is in the news because the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) on 5 August 2026 to Gujarat and Rajasthan following a rise in CHPV cases among children.
- Gujarat has reported 35 laboratory-confirmed cases and 22 child deaths during the current monsoon season, while Rajasthan has also confirmed infections in border districts, prompting intensified surveillance and scientific investigations.
- Chandipura Virus (CHPV) is an arbovirus belonging to the Rhabdoviridae family under the Vesiculovirus genus.
- It was first identified in 1965 from Chandipura village in Maharashtra.
- The disease primarily affects children below 15 years of age and is associated with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).
- CHPV is transmitted mainly through the bite of infected sandflies (Phlebotomus species), while the role of mosquitoes and other arthropods is under investigation.
- Human-to-human transmission has not been established.
- The National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) comprises experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD).
- The Centre has intensified Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) surveillance, laboratory testing, vector surveillance and epidemiological investigations.
- Scientists are conducting community serosurveys, mandatory testing of fever patients and studies on possible vectors to understand the virus transmission cycle.
- The NCDC Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) has been activated to coordinate outbreak response.
- Primarily transmitted through infected sandflies.
- Peak transmission generally occurs during the monsoon and post-monsoon season due to increased vector breeding.
- There is no confirmed human-to-human spread.
- Sudden high fever.
- Severe headache and vomiting.
- Convulsions (seizures).
- Altered consciousness leading to encephalitis.
- Rapid neurological deterioration, especially in children.
- Control sandfly breeding through environmental sanitation.
- Use insecticide spraying in affected areas.
- Sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets.
- Wear full-sleeved clothing and use insect repellents.
- Early reporting of fever and neurological symptoms in children.
- CHPV has a high case fatality rate due to rapid progression to encephalitis.
- It represents an emerging zoonotic and vector-borne public health challenge in India.
- Highlights the importance of One Health, integrated surveillance and vector control.
- Strengthens the need for improved laboratory diagnostics and outbreak preparedness.
