Chandipura Virus
What is a virus called Chandipura?
Chandipura virus, named after the town in Maharashtra where the discovery was made and isolated, is known to cause brain inflammation, progressing rapidly from an influenza-like disease to coma and death.
The Chandipura Vesiculovirus (CHPV) mainly infects children under 14 years of age.
Causes:
- The virus primarily spreads through the bite of sand flies, sometimes through mosquitoes.
- Animal experiments indicate that neurons are damaged by the virus and neurodegeneration is induced.
- Sand flies, which are found in mud and sand house cracks, often breed during the months of the monsoon and pre-monsoon, which is when cases are typically recorded.
- The female phlebotomine sandfly is the probable virus vector (or carrier).
- In Senegal, Nigeria and also in India, the virus was found in sandflies.
- In 2003, in southern India, the Chandipura virus was responsible for an epidemic in which 329 children developed acute encephalitis and 183 died.
Zoonotic Infection:
- Zoonotic infection refers to an incursion of a virus from its natural host into a ‘dead-end host’ that has little chance to further disseminate the infection.
- Acute infection of the central nervous system (CNS) is an example of zoonotic infection that has apparently no selective advantage for the host or the pathogen.
Symptoms:
Sudden high fever followed by headache, seizures and vomiting, often leading to unconsciousness, are the symptoms. Physicians prescribe a blood test on the basis of the symptoms.
Therapy:
- There is no particular drug for its treatment. With early diagnosis, however, the patient is given hospitalisation and symptomatic care, which may help save lives.
Prevention:
The best approach for suppressing CHPV infection is prevention. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), maintaining good nutrition, sanitation, hygiene and knowledge in rural areas is important for the containment of disease-transmitting vectors.