At least 56 deaths have been reported in India’s Gujarat state due to viral encephalitis, a disease caused by a viral infection spread by sand flies and ticks. The Chandipura virus, known to affect mostly children under 15, has been responsible for a quarter of these deaths in the last month.
Gujarat Health Commissioner Harshad Patel mentioned that the outbreak predominantly affects children, prompting local health authorities to intensify surveillance and monitor cases closely. A total of 133 cases of viral encephalitis, including 47 cases caused by the Chandipura virus, have been recorded in the state with a population of 70 million.
The Chandipura virus, named after a town in Maharashtra, has caused sporadic cases of encephalitis in different regions of India. The only preventive measures available against the disease are vector control, hygiene, and awareness.
Initially reported in two districts, the disease has now spread to over two dozen districts in Gujarat. The government is taking necessary steps to contain the outbreak and protect the population from this deadly virus.
Source: Reuters