Chandipura Virus: an Integrated View of Virology, Disease and Public Health

Abstract

Chandipura virus (CHPV) is a newly emerging arbovirus in India that is mainly spread by sandflies and is connected to episodes of acute encephalitis in kids. Typically, grown-ups do not show clinical signs. CHPV was first identified in Maharashtra in 1965 and has since been associated with AES outbreaks in various states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh. The virus primarily impacts children below 15 years old, especially in rural regions with substandard living conditions. It is most prevalent during the monsoon season when sandflies are most active. The illness progresses rapidly with fever and encephalitis, often resulting in a high mortality rate. Resemblances to other arboviral infections make managing outbreaks challenging due to diagnostic complexities. Present-day public health measures focus on controlling vectors, maintaining cleanliness in the environment, and raising community awareness, but the absence of specific antiviral therapies and vaccines poses a significant obstacle. This evaluation underscores the necessity for enhanced surveillance, diagnostic methods, and vaccine creation to reduce the potential public health consequences of CHPV in India. A holistic One Health strategy, integrating human, animal, and environmental health, is vital for the efficient handling and prevention of CHPV outbreaks.¹

Chandipura virus (CHPV) is an emerging neurotropic arbovirus belonging to the Vesiculovirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family and is an important cause of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in India. The infection predominantly affects children, particularly those below 15 years of age, and may progress rapidly from an acute febrile illness to severe neurological disease with a high case-fatality rate. ^1,3 CHPV is mainly spread by diseased phlebotomine sandflies, and its frequent presence in various Indian states underscores its ongoing significance for public health.⁴ Typically, the symptoms of the disease consist of a sudden onset of high body temperature, head pain, throwing up, convulsions, changes in awareness, and additional signs related to the nervous system. In serious cases, the infection can quickly advance to inflammation of the brain, unconsciousness, and mortality, especially among young individuals.⁶ Ever since its initial discovery in 1965, CHPV has been linked to repeated episodes in various Indian regions such as Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, and Rajasthan.^9,13  the significant increase documented in Gujarat in 2024 and resurgence of CHPV activity in Gujarat and Rajasthan in 2026 highlight the ongoing danger presented by this virus. ¹⁴ at present, there is no specific antiviral therapy or licensed vaccine for CHPV, making early diagnosis, supportive management, vector control, surveillance, and public-health preparedness essential for outbreak prevention and control.⁴

In general, CHPV continues to be a significant new viral danger in India, particularly affecting children. Enhancing laboratory testing, tracking of disease spread, genetic surveillance, controlling sandfly vectors, raising community knowledge, and studying efficient antiviral treatments and preventive measures are crucial to decrease illness and death related to CHPV and to enhance readiness for upcoming outbreaks.