Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Gujarat Chandipura Outbreak Kills 22 Children; Toddler Recovers After Ventilator
Something serious is happening in a place called Gujarat in India, and it is about a tiny germ called a virus.
The germ is called the Chandipura virus, and it is making little children very sick.
Children who catch it may get a fever, throw up, and have body shakes, and they can get sick very fast.
The virus is spread by a tiny bug called a sand fly, so you cannot catch it from a friend.
Sadly, 22 people have died because of this virus.
One little boy named Vihan was very sick and needed a machine called a ventilator to help him breathe, but now he is getting better.
The doctors say there is no special medicine that kills this virus, so they can only help with the symptoms.
Families do not have to pay for treatment because the government is making it free.
Health workers are also spraying medicine to stop sand flies from biting more children, and they are telling everyone to go to the doctor right away if they feel sick.
The Chandipura virus outbreak in Gujarat has taken 22 lives, with children below age 15 primarily affected.
One-year-old Vihan, admitted to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital on July 10, was placed on a ventilator but is now recovering, according to his uncle.
The virus is spread by sand flies, is not contagious, and its common symptoms include fever, vomiting, and convulsions.
Around 200 suspicious samples were tested, of which 35 were positive, and the state health ministry declared free treatment for all patients.
Dr. Parth Vadhela said there is no antiviral for the virus and only symptoms can be treated, while medical teams are spraying to stop sand fly breeding.
Gujarat Health Minister Praful Panseriya urged people to approach doctors immediately if symptoms appear, saying the state acted quickly after the first case in Vadodara.
- Who
- Children below age 15 in Gujarat, including one-year-old Vihan; doctors at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital; Gujarat Health Minister Praful Panseriya.
- What
- A Chandipura virus outbreak that has killed 22 people, with 35 positive cases out of about 200 samples tested and free treatment declared for all patients.
- When
- Ongoing outbreak; Vihan has been admitted to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital since July 10, more than 20 days before the report.
- Where
- Gujarat, India, including Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, Kheda, and Vadodara civil hospital.
- Why
- The sand fly-borne virus attacks children's immune systems and multiple organs, and with no antiviral available, immediate hospital treatment is considered mandatory.
- Disease
- Chandipura virus
- Deaths
- 22
- Affected group
- Children below age 15
- Samples tested
- About 200, of which 35 positive
- Transmission
- Sand fly bite; not contagious
- Common symptoms
- Fever, vomiting, convulsions
- Treatment
- Free for all patients; symptom management only, no antiviral
- Recovering patient
- 1-year-old Vihan, Gandhinagar Civil Hospital