India is once again racing against time to contain the Chandipura virus (CHPV), a rare but highly fatal pathogen that primarily affects children and has repeatedly triggered outbreaks of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).
With fresh cases and deaths reported from Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Centre has deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) while mobilising some of the country's premier scientific institutions to unravel how the virus is spreading and how it can be stopped before it gains a wider foothold.
The latest response reflects growing concern that while Chandipura virus outbreaks have historically remained localised, the disease's high fatality rate and limited understanding demand rapid containment.
A senior official from the Union Health Ministry said that a multidisciplinary NJORT has been deployed to Gujarat and Rajasthan, where it will work alongside State governments to strengthen outbreak investigation, epidemiological surveillance, clinical management, laboratory coordination and vector control.
The team comprises specialists 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 NCDC's Public Health Emergency Operations Centre has also been activated to coordinate the national response.
Chandipura is a viral infection transmitted by sandflies that can cause fever, headache, or encephalitis, leading to convulsions, coma, or death. One of the most distinguishing features of Chandipura is the rapid deterioration in the condition of the infected, with the deaths sometimes occurring within 24 hours of showing symptoms.
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The deployment of the team comes amid an unprecedented multi-institutional scientific investigation involving experts from ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology (Chennai), ICMR-National Institute of Vector Control Research (Puducherry), ICMR-National Institute of Virology (Pune), ICMR-National Institute for Pre-Clinical Research (Hyderabad) and ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (Bengaluru).
“Together, they are examining every aspect of the outbreak—from the virus's epidemiology and clinical manifestations to its transmission cycle and possible treatment strategies,” said the official.
Although Chandipura virus remains relatively unknown outside scientific circles, it has periodically caused devastating outbreaks in India over the past six decades.
The virus was first identified in 1965 from the blood of a patient in Chandipura village in Maharashtra's Nagpur district, from which it derives its name.
The most severe outbreak occurred in 2003 in Andhra Pradesh, where 329 children were affected and 183 died, making it one of the deadliest encephalitis outbreaks linked to the virus.
In 2004, Gujarat reported another major outbreak with more than 90 suspected cases and over 70 deaths, predominantly among children.
Subsequent outbreaks were reported from Maharashtra in 2007, Telangana in 2019, and Gujarat in 2024, reaffirming that the virus continues to circulate in parts of the country despite remaining relatively uncommon.
The 2024 Gujarat outbreak resulted in 76 confirmed cases and 34 deaths, prompting extensive field investigations by ICMR and state health authorities. Researchers collected hundreds of vector samples but were unable to conclusively identify the insect responsible for transmission during that outbreak.
The current outbreak in 2026 has once again placed Gujarat at the centre of national attention, with cases also emerging in neighbouring Rajasthan. Health authorities have intensified surveillance to prevent further spread, particularly among children who remain the most vulnerable group.
Chandipura virus belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family, the same family as the rabies virus, although it causes a completely different disease.
No specific antiviral drug or vaccine currently exists against Chandipura virus. Treatment is therefore limited to intensive supportive care, management of brain swelling, seizure control and maintenance of vital functions.
One of the biggest scientific questions remains how exactly the virus is spreading, said the official.
Sandflies have long been recognised as the principal vectors of Chandipura virus. However, scientists are now investigating whether mosquitoes, ticks or mites may also contribute to transmission during the current outbreak.
Large numbers of insects collected from affected villages are undergoing laboratory testing. Officials have cautioned that no conclusions should be drawn until the investigations are completed.
Researchers are simultaneously conducting active surveillance among patients presenting with Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) while carrying out community-based serosurveys to estimate asymptomatic infections and understand the true extent of virus circulation.
Veterinary scientists too are collecting blood samples from cattle, buffaloes and goats, along with milk samples, to determine whether domestic animals may serve as reservoirs for the virus. Around 70 animal blood samples have already been collected for laboratory analysis, said the official.
He stressed that there is currently no evidence linking livestock to transmission, but the studies form part of a broader "One Health" strategy integrating human, animal and environmental surveillance.
Scientists are also attempting to determine whether the virus has undergone genetic changes.
Whole-genome sequencing is being undertaken at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Gandhinagar. Preliminary findings suggest only minor genetic variations, although detailed comparative analysis is underway to establish whether the current strain differs significantly from viruses detected during earlier outbreaks.
India is also leveraging its Hospital-based Acute Encephalitis Syndrome Surveillance Network, covering 15 tertiary-care hospitals, to strengthen case detection, laboratory diagnosis and genomic surveillance.
Experts said Chandipura virus illustrates how emerging infectious diseases continue to challenge India's public health system. While outbreaks have so far remained geographically limited, the virus's ability to cause rapid neurological deterioration and high mortality among children makes early detection and swift containment essential.
