Chandipura virus: death toll rises to 20, alert in Gujarat

 

Gandhinagar: Death toll rises to 20 due to spread of Chandipura Virus (CHPV) in Gujarat. Five people died yesterday alone. 37 people are undergoing treatment in different hospitals. The virus-carrying flies were caught and sent to Pune Virology Lab for testing. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel called a special meeting and assessed the situation. High alert has been issued in the state.

All those suffering from fever are advised to go to the hospital for treatment. The Gujarat Health Department is reporting that the situation is currently under control, but people are panicking about the increasing number of cases.

The setback is that no medicine has been found for this virus, which was discovered in 1965 in Chandipura, Maharashtra. The virus claimed over 300 lives in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra during 2003-04. Since it is spread by mosquitoes and flies, state-wide cleaning operations have also started. Symptoms include sudden onset of high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and seizures. It affects the brain and causes death.