Chandipura virus | Centre says 53 cases, 19 deaths reported in the country so far

India reports 53 Chandipura virus cases, 19 deaths; Health Minister outlines measures to control outbreak effectively.

India has reported 53 confirmed cases of Chandipura virus -- 51 from Gujarat and two from Rajasthan -- as on July 31, Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.

Of these 53 cases of Chandipura virus, 19 people have died and all deaths have been reported from Gujarat, Mr. Nadda said in a written response to a question.

Elaborating on the steps taken to control the outbreak of the virus, Mr. Nadda said a National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) has been deployed to assist the Gujarat government to undertake public health measures and for detailed epidemiological investigations into the outbreak.

Experts from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, National Centre for Disease Control, Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology, Pune are part of the NJORT, the Minister said.

A team from the NCDC, Delhi, and ICMR NIV Pune is undertaking an epidemiological investigation into the Acute Encephalitis cases and related deaths.

Besides, entomologists from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are stationed at the affected areas to undertake entomological investigations to ascertain the vector involved in transmission of Chandipura vesiculovirus (CHPV) to human beings.

Health rapid response teams and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and Auxiliary Nurses and Midwives (ANMs) have conducted active surveillance for early identification of cases and timely referral of suspected cases to nearby hospitals and medical colleges which are offering 24 hours specialist services and ventilator support, the Minister said.