CHPV INFECTION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Gujarat government reported that six children have died from suspected Chandipura virus (CHPV) infection.

CHPV Infection

• About: CHPV is a virus of the Rhabdoviridae family, which also includes other members such as the lyssavirus that causes rabies.
• CHPV Discovery: The CHPV infection was first isolated in 1965 during an investigation of a dengue/chikungunya outbreak in Maharashtra.
• Affected States: Maharashtra, Northern Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.
• Vectors: 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.
• Transmission: The virus resides in the salivary gland of these insects, and can be transmitted to humans or other vertebrates like domestic animals through bites.
• Infection Progression: The infection caused by the virus can then reach the central nervous system, leading to encephalitis — inflammation of the active tissues of the brain.
• Symptoms: Fever, body ache, and headache. It may then progress to altered sensorium or seizures and encephalitis.
• Additional Symptoms: Retrospective studies from India have also reported other symptoms such as respiratory distress, bleeding tendencies, or anaemia.
• Treatment: Currently there is no specific antiretroviral therapy or vaccine available for treatment.