Gujarat has confirmed 12 cases of Chandipura virus (CHPV) out of 63 suspected infections reported so far in 2025, with eight of the confirmed patients having died, state health authorities said on Monday, 20 July. The state government has intensified surveillance, treatment, and vector control measures as laboratory testing continues on the remaining samples.

Key Developments

Of the 55 samples tested so far at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) in Gandhinagar, 12 returned positive. Eight laboratory reports are still awaited. Of the confirmed cases, nine patients are from Gujarat and three are from neighbouring Rajasthan.

District-wise, two confirmed cases each have been reported from Panchmahal and Kheda districts, while one case each has been recorded in Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation area.

What the Government Said

The situation was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Health Minister Praful Pansheriya on Monday. He directed officials to conduct detailed investigations into the travel and case history of infected patients to better understand the source of transmission.

'Once a case is reported from a particular area, intensive surveillance in that pocket becomes essential,' Pansheriya said. He also urged parents to act without delay: 'If any child develops symptoms such as sudden high fever, seizures, vomiting, diarrhoea or unconsciousness, parents should immediately contact the nearest government hospital or a paediatric specialist without wasting any time.'

All 63 suspected patients have been admitted to medical colleges, district hospitals, or multispeciality hospitals and are receiving treatment, the Health and Family Welfare Department confirmed.

Containment and Vector Control Measures

Rapid Response Teams are investigating every suspected case and conducting focal surveillance in affected areas. Dusting and spraying operations are being carried out on a war footing around kutcha houses and cattle sheds to control sand flies and other insects believed to transmit the virus. Extensive health screening has been conducted across thousands of kutcha and pucca houses in affected districts.

Notably, 117 sand fly samples have been tested across the state so far, and all have returned negative results, officials said. Paediatric intensive care unit (ICU) beds, essential medicines, and ventilators have been made available at civil and superspeciality hospitals across all district headquarters.

In collaboration with the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, 1,993 paediatricians across Gujarat have received training through Continuing Medical Education (CME) programmes to improve early detection and management.

About Chandipura Virus

Chandipura virus was first identified in 1965 in the village of Chandipura in Maharashtra. It is primarily transmitted by sand flies and mainly affects children under 15. The infection can cause sudden fever, vomiting, seizures, and unconsciousness, and in severe cases may lead to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). The virus is generally more active during the monsoon season and through September, according to health authorities.

Public Advisory

The Health Department has urged parents to seek immediate medical attention if children develop fever, vomiting, seizures, or unconsciousness. It also advised people to avoid self-medication, wear full-sleeved clothing, use mosquito nets, and maintain cleanliness around homes to minimise contact with sand flies. With the monsoon at its peak, authorities warn that vigilance in rural and semi-urban pockets — particularly around kutcha housing — remains critical in the weeks ahead.