Overview
- Gujarat has recorded 184 suspected acute encephalitis cases this monsoon, of which 35 are laboratory confirmed as Chandipura virus infections and 11 test results remain pending, and officials report 22 child deaths.
- State health authorities say all confirmed patients are under 15 years old and that seven children remain hospitalized while others have recovered and been discharged.
- On Wednesday the Union Health Ministry deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team to Gujarat and neighbouring Rajasthan to strengthen epidemiology, laboratory coordination and clinical care.
- State teams have ramped up vector control by spraying insecticide around livestock areas and advising people to seal cracks in mud walls to reduce sandfly exposure and other breeding sites.
- Gujarat labs are conducting whole‑genome sequencing and expanded animal and vector sampling to check for viral changes and transmission pathways but findings are preliminary and no vaccine or specific antiviral exists.