Chandipura Virus

About Chandipura Virus

• Chandipura Virus is a virus of the Rhabdoviridae family.
  • It also includes other members such as the lyssavirus that causes rabies.
• How it is caused:
  • Several species of sandflies, like Phlebotomine sandflies and Phlebotomus papatasi, and some mosquito species, such as Aedes aegypti (which is also the vector for dengue), are considered vectors of CHPV. 
  • The virus resides in the salivary glands of these insects and can be transmitted to humans or other vertebrates, like domestic animals, through bites. 
  • The infection caused by the virus can then reach the central nervous system, which can lead to encephalitis. 
• Symptoms: The CHPV infection presents initially with flu-like symptoms, such as acute onset of fever, body ache, and headache. 
  • It may then progress to altered sensorium or seizures and encephalitis.
  • Retrospective studies from India have also reported other symptoms such as respiratory distress, bleeding tendencies, or anaemia.
  • The infection often progresses rapidly after encephalitis, which may then lead to mortality within 24-48 hours of hospitalisation.
  • Disease progression can be as rapid as a patient reporting high fever in the morning, and their kidneys or liver being affected by the evening. 
• Affected age group: It primarily affects children under 15 years. 
• Management: The infection can only be symptomatically managed as currently there is no specific antiretroviral therapy or vaccine available for treatment. 
  • As a result, it becomes crucial to manage brain inflammation to prevent mortality.