The Indian government on Thursday reported the death of at least 59 people from acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) over the course of a month amid a new outbreak of the Chandipura virus (CHPV), associated with the neurological infection.
Since June 2024 till yesterday, 148 cases of encephalitis have been reported, 140 of them in the western state of Gujarat, of which 59 have died, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement.
Of the total number of cases, “the presence of the Chandipura virus has been confirmed in 51 individuals,” the statement said.
Rajkot Civil Hospital in Gujarat region revealed yesterday to the Indian Express newspaper that so far 20 children had been admitted to a special ward for patients with suspected CHPV, seven of whom have died.
The infection, named after a city in Maharashtra state, mostly affects children under 15 years of age and, despite resembling the flu, can result in rapid neurological deterioration, the National Institute of Virology said on its website.
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India reports over 200 deaths from acute encephalitis caused by Chandipura virus; alert on
However, India reported “a downward trend in new daily cases of acute encephalitis syndrome since July 19.”
Gujarat, the worst-affected state, has adopted various public health measures such as spraying insecticides for vector control, sensitizing medical staff, using information, education and communication materials and referring cases to designated facilities, the ministry said.
The virus, which is associated with acute encephalitis, is transmitted by vectors such as mosquitoes, flies or ticks and can progress rapidly, within 24 to 48 hours.
India has seen several outbreaks in recent years in western, central and southern parts of the country, with mortality rates ranging from 56 to 75 percent in some regions, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
With information from EFE.
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