The Chandipura virus, a rod-shaped pathogen belonging to the rabies virus family, is a significant cause of encephalitis, characterized by inflammation and swelling of the brain. Primarily transmitted by sandflies, this virus can also spread through mosquitoes and ticks.
Early symptoms of Chandipura virus infection resemble those of the flu, but within 24 to 48 hours, the condition can rapidly escalate to encephalitis, coma, and death. Children under the age of 15 are particularly susceptible. The precise mechanism by which the virus infiltrates the central nervous system and induces encephalitis remains unclear. It is hypothesized that the virus enters the bloodstream through the saliva of infected insects during a bite, where it replicates in monocytes— a type of white blood cell— evading the immune system. Subsequently, the virus breaches the blood-brain barrier, leading to brain infection.
Six hours post-infection, the virus secretes a phosphoprotein within brain cells, potentially explaining its rapid lethality. Unfortunately, there are no antiviral treatments or vaccines available for Chandipura virus.
The virus was first identified in Chandipura, Maharashtra, India, in 1965. However, the first major outbreak occurred in 2003 in Andhra Pradesh, where 329 children were infected, resulting in 183 fatalities. A subsequent outbreak in Gujarat in 2005 had a fatality rate of 78%. The latest outbreak, also in Gujarat, has severely affected over 100 people, predominantly children.
Since its discovery, the Chandipura virus has primarily affected the Indian subcontinent, although it has been detected in West Africa and Sri Lanka. The virus’s emergence and spread are likely linked to climate change, with rising temperatures contributing to the increased incidence of vector-borne diseases, including Zika, dengue, and Nipah in India.
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