Deadly Chandipura Virus Spreads to Rajasthan: One Child Dead, Another Infected

Chandipura virus, a mosquito-borne illness, found in children in Rajasthan after deaths in Gujarat. Medical teams are collecting samples and authorities are taking precautions near Gujarat border. One child died, another is being treated, raising alarm in the tribal area.

Deadly Chandipura Virus Spreads to Rajasthan

The Chandipura virus, previously identified in Gujarat, has now been detected in Rajasthan, specifically affecting two children in Udaipur’s tribal area. Tragically, one child succumbed to the virus during treatment at Himmatnagar Civil Hospital in Gujarat, while another child, aged four, is currently stable. Experts note that this virus directly targets the brain, initially manifesting flu-like symptoms and potentially leading to coma.

Following the emergence of these cases, medical teams are visiting villages to collect samples from children and their families. These samples are being sent to a Pune laboratory for further analysis. The virus, named after Chandipura village in Maharashtra where it first appeared in 1965, spreads through mosquitoes and flies, particularly during the rainy season. In response to these cases, authorities have initiated precautionary measures in border areas adjacent to Gujarat.

On June 27, a child from Balicha village near Nayakhand in Udaipur’s tribal area tragically passed away. Initially, this incident wasn’t given much attention. However, following the discovery of Chandipura virus symptoms in children who later died in Gujarat, it was later identified that the child from Udaipur also exhibited similar symptoms. The rising number of deaths attributed to the Chandipura virus has caused alarm in the tribal area, prompting heightened concern among residents.