Why In News?

Gujarat and Rajasthan face a deadly resurgence of the Chandipura Virus (CHPV), which triggers severe pediatric fatalities and a rapid spike in Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) cases.

 

What is Chandipura Virus (CHPV)?

Chandipura Virus (CHPV) is an arbovirus that causes Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), a neurological illness affecting mainly children below 15 years. It is an emerging public health concern in India.

 

Virus Family: CHPV belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family and the Vesiculovirus genus. It is an enveloped, bullet-shaped, single-stranded negative-sense RNA virus, belonging to the same family as the rabies virus (though it causes a different disease).

 

Discovery: The virus was first identified in 1965 in Chandipura village, Maharashtra, during an outbreak of dengue-like febrile illness, from which it derives its name.

 

Transmission: CHPV is transmitted primarily through the bites of Phlebotomine sandflies (especially Phlebotomus spp.). 

  • Certain mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti have also been identified as potential vectors under experimental or field conditions. 

  • Human-to-human transmission has not been documented.

 

Geographical Distribution: The virus is endemic in India, with outbreaks reported mainly from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. 

 

High-Risk Group: Children aged below 15 years, particularly those in rural and tribal areas during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons, are most vulnerable.

 

Symptoms

  • Sudden high fever

  • Severe headache

  • Vomiting

  • Altered sensorium

  • Convulsions

  • Rapid progression to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), coma and death in severe cases.

 

Diagnosis

  • RT-PCR for viral RNA detection.

  • IgM ELISA for confirmation of infection.

  • Clinical diagnosis is supported by AES symptoms and epidemiological history.

 

Treatment

  • No specific antiviral drug or vaccine is currently available.

  • Management is primarily supportive, including:

    • Control of seizures

    • Management of raised intracranial pressure

    • Fluid and electrolyte balance

    • Intensive care for severe neurological illness.

 

 

 

 

Source: INDIANEXPRESS

 

 

 

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Chandipura Virus (CHPV):

1. It is a DNA virus primarily transmitted by the Aedes mosquito.

2. It belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family.

3. The virus predominantly affects adults above 60 years of age. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

A) 1 and 2 only 

B) 2 only 

C) 1 and 3 only 

D) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Chandipura virus is a single-stranded RNA virus primarily transmitted by the bite of infected sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus, not the Aedes mosquito.

Statement 2 is correct: It belongs to the family Rhabdoviridae, which also includes the rabies virus.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The virus predominantly affects young children (under 15 years of age), causing Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).