Chandipura virus has widely spread in three districts of Gujarat recording 29 cases and making 17 people died. Among 29 cases, 18 cases have been listed from Kheda, 9 from Panchmahals and 2 from Vadodara district, out of these 6 died in Kheda, 9 in Panchmahals and 2 in Vadodara.

On the other hand, the health minister has assured people that there is no need to panic as proper team force have been deployed in the districts for immediate treatment and disease is closely monitored by the team of experts.

Jaynarayan Vyas, state health minister said that blood samples of the infected people have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune and experts have identified the virus as 'Chandipura Virus'. The virus is more active to capture aged people and children in its trap and is caused by the bite of sandfly which is commonly found in the houses made with mud and sand.

Usually these sandflies made their homes in the cracks found in the walls of houses built with mud and sand, so it is advisable to plaster these cracks to prevent these sandflies to shelter in the walls. The insect bites and the virus get transmitted into the humans.

He also added that the disease proves to be fatal if not treated timely. In this patient will suffer from high fever and other symptoms. To mention its terror, it is recorded that nearly 58% victims have died of this virus and remaining
29 cases are under suspicion out of which NIV has confirmed 9 case of Chandipura Virus.

In addition to this virus, officials are also worried for other water borne disease which arises in the monsoon like diarrheal diseases including acute gastroenteritis etc. But they assured that enough preventive measures are taken by the state to deal with the possible outbreak.

State has appointed a team of 16 medical officers and 134 para-medical officials to check and educate the people on water-borne diseases in flood infected areas of Jamnagar district, three villages of kachchh and 19 villages of Porbandar.