Acute Encephalitis Syndrome: 9 of 78 cases since June due to Chandipura

Sent multidisciplinary team to assist Gujarat, says Union Health Ministry

Primarily transmitted by sandflies, the Chandipura virus has caused fatalities in Gujarat due to its rapid progression and impact on the central nervous system, especially in children (Source: Pexels)

There have been 78 cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome — inflammation of the brain, usually due to an infection — since June this year in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, with 28 resulting in death. Amid a suspected outbreak of the Chandipura virus, a vector that is among the causes of AES, at least nine cases in Gujarat, five of whom died, were found positive for the deadly pathogen.

According to data provided by the Union Health Ministry, so far, there have been 75 cases of AES reported from Gujarat, two from Rajasthan and one from Madhya Pradesh. The National Institute of Virology, Pune, tested 76 samples and confirmed Chandipura virus in nine, all from Gujarat.

The Ministry said a panel of experts that reviewed the AES cases in the three states concluded that infectious agents contributed to only a small proportion of them and emphasized the need for comprehensive “epidemiological, environmental and entomological (insect) studies”. This will help in understanding the factors that have led to the outbreak and stop the proliferation of the vector to prevent further infections. It said a multidisciplinary central team — from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) — has been deployed to assist Gujarat with the probes.

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The panel comprised Dr Atul Goel, DG of health services and Director of NCDC; experts from AIIMS, Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital and NIMHANS, and officials from the central and state surveillance units.

Explained

Deadly vector

Chandipura virus — first isolated in Maharashtra in 1965 — is transmitted by sandflies and is known to cause fever, headache, and encephalitis leading to convulsions, coma, and death. The pathogen is known to affect children below the age of 15 years most severely. With no specific treatment, the mortality can be as high as 56% to 75% as seen in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh in 2003 — India’s worst Chandipura outbreak that killed 322 children.

Dr PK Singh, CDHO in Gujarat’s Rajkot, where there are suspected Chandipura cases, said that the outbreak this year may be due to migration of sandflies. “Sandflies are broadly absent in Saurashtra but it is possible that migration is aiding the spread along with environmental factors with the start of the monsoon. It might be possible that the weather may have triggered this,” Singh said.

An NIV scientist said that Chandipura is always considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of children with AES. However, testing remains an issue.

Anonna Dutt

Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More

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