Chandipura virus: Centre deploys NJORT to Gujarat, Rajasthan as 22 children die
Synopsis
Twenty-two children have died and 35 infections confirmed in Gujarat as the Centre deploys a national outbreak team to tackle Chandipura virus — a rare but lethal pathogen whose transmission cycle remains unresolved even after a 2024 outbreak in the same state. Scientists are now sequencing the virus's genome and testing cattle blood samples, racing to answer whether this strain has evolved.
Key Takeaways
The Union Health Ministry deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to Gujarat and Rajasthan on 5 August .
Gujarat has recorded 35 laboratory-confirmed Chandipura virus cases and 22 child deaths this monsoon season, from 184 suspected infections .
Seven children remain under treatment, according to State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya .
Experts from NCDC , ICMR , and DAHD are conducting vector, animal, and genomic investigations; around 70 animal blood samples have been collected.
Whole-genome sequencing at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Gandhinagar has found minor genetic variations; full comparative analysis is pending.
No specific vector has been conclusively identified; sandflies, mosquitoes, ticks, and mites are all under examination.
The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to Gujarat and Rajasthan to contain the worsening Chandipura Virus Disease (CHPV) outbreak, as Gujarat records the country's highest caseload with 35 laboratory-confirmed infections and 22 child deaths this monsoon season. The deployment, announced on Wednesday, 5 August, comes alongside one of the most expansive multi-institutional scientific investigations into the virus in recent years.
Scale of the Outbreak
State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya confirmed on Monday that 35 cases had been verified from 184 suspected infections, with seven children still under treatment. Gujarat has borne the brunt of the outbreak, which has emerged during an active monsoon season — a period historically associated with heightened vector activity in western India.
This is not the first time Chandipura virus has surfaced in Gujarat. A 2024 outbreak in the state triggered a similar multi-agency response, though no specific vector was conclusively identified at the time. The recurrence this season has sharpened the urgency of establishing the virus's full transmission cycle.
Who Is on the Ground
The multidisciplinary NJORT draws experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD). The team will assist state governments on outbreak investigation, epidemiological assessment, clinical management, laboratory coordination, vector surveillance, and the implementation of public health measures, before submitting recommendations to the Union Health Ministry.
The NCDC's Public Health Emergency Operations Centre has also been activated. Surveillance under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), coordinated by the NCDC in collaboration with state units, is running continuously.
The Scientific Investigation
Specialists from ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai; ICMR-National Institute of Vector Control Research, Puducherry; ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune; ICMR-National Institute for Pre-Clinical Research, Hyderabad; and ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics, Bengaluru are working alongside the Gujarat Health Department.
Active surveillance has been intensified among patients presenting with Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in affected districts. Community-based serosurveys are underway to estimate the extent of asymptomatic transmission. Laboratory teams are also working to strengthen diagnostic assays and develop improved animal models to better understand the disease's pathogenesis.
The Vector and Animal Angle
While sandflies are the established vectors of Chandipura virus, scientists are examining whether mosquitoes, ticks, and mites may also play a role. Officials cautioned it would be premature to identify a responsible vector until investigations are complete. Large volumes of vector samples from affected areas are currently under laboratory analysis.
Animal surveillance has been expanded to assess whether domestic animals serve as reservoirs. Blood and milk samples from cattle, buffaloes, and goats have been collected, with around 70 animal blood samples already under analysis for Chandipura virus and other pathogens.
Genomic Tracking and What Comes Next
Whole-genome sequencing of virus samples from the current outbreak is being conducted at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre in Gandhinagar. Preliminary analysis has identified minor genetic variations, though experts said detailed comparative genomic studies are needed before determining whether the circulating strain has evolved from those linked to previous outbreaks.
The response is also supported by India's Hospital-based Acute Encephalitis Syndrome Surveillance Network, a multicentric programme covering 15 tertiary care hospitals, using standardised clinical protocols, serological and molecular diagnostics, and selective next-generation sequencing. The ministry described the overall approach as a coordinated 'One Health' framework integrating human, animal, and vector surveillance — a model that, if it delivers answers on the transmission cycle, could shape India's preparedness for future Chandipura outbreaks.
Point of View
But the timing raises questions — Gujarat has now seen back-to-back Chandipura outbreaks in 2024 and 2025, yet the vector responsible for either has not been conclusively identified. That gap in basic epidemiological knowledge is the real problem: without knowing how the virus spreads, containment remains reactive rather than preventive. The 'One Health' framing is credible, but its value depends entirely on whether findings from the current investigation are translated into standing surveillance protocols before the next monsoon season.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chandipura virus and why is it dangerous?
Chandipura Virus Disease (CHPV) is a rare viral illness primarily affecting children, capable of progressing to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), which can be fatal. It has been associated with outbreaks in western India, particularly during monsoon seasons when vector activity is high.
How many cases and deaths have been reported in the current outbreak?
Gujarat has confirmed 35 laboratory-verified Chandipura virus cases from 184 suspected infections, with 22 child deaths recorded this monsoon season. Seven children remain under treatment, according to State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya.
What is the NJORT and what will it do?
The National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) is a multidisciplinary body comprising experts from the NCDC, ICMR, and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. It will assist Gujarat and Rajasthan on outbreak investigation, clinical management, vector surveillance, and public health measures, and will submit recommendations to the Union Health Ministry.
How does Chandipura virus spread?
Sandflies are the established vectors of Chandipura virus, but the current investigation is also examining whether mosquitoes, ticks, and mites may play a role. Officials have cautioned against drawing conclusions until laboratory analysis of large vector sample collections is complete.
Has the Chandipura virus strain changed from previous outbreaks?
Whole-genome sequencing at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre in Gandhinagar has identified minor genetic variations in the current outbreak strain. However, experts say detailed comparative genomic studies are required before determining whether the virus has evolved from strains linked to previous outbreaks.
