NEW DELHI — In a major push to contain and evaluate the spread of Chandipura Virus Disease (CHPV), the Central Government has deployed a high-level National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to Gujarat and Rajasthan. The multi-agency deployment marks one of the most comprehensive scientific investigations into the pathogen in recent years.
According to officials from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reporting via Alter News, the team is tasked with mapping community transmission dynamics, analyzing possible genetic evolution in the viral strain, and assessing the full spectrum of infection among affected populations.
Multi-Agency Response Activated
The central team brings together field epidemiologists, virologists, entomologists, and veterinary specialists from premier national research bodies, including:
National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD)
To support field operations in real time, the NCDC has activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC). The deployed experts are working directly with state health departments in Gujarat and Rajasthan to reinforce local epidemiological assessments, clinical management, vector control measures, and laboratory coordination.
Nationwide Research Network Probes Transmission Cycle
Parallel to the field deployment, a multi-institutional research consortium has been mobilized. Premier institutions—including ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology (Chennai), ICMR-National Institute of Virology (Pune), ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Puducherry), ICMR-National Institute for Pre-Clinical Research (Hyderabad), and ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (Bengaluru)—are collaborating closely with local state health authorities.
While sandflies are historically recognized as the primary vector for Chandipura virus transmission, scientists are conducting extensive surveillance on other potential vectors, including mosquitoes, ticks, and mites. Extensive vector samples gathered across affected districts are undergoing laboratory analysis. Health officials emphasized that definitive vector identification will remain pending until current laboratory testing concludes.
Livestock Surveillance and Genetic Sequencing
In a significant broadening of investigation protocols, researchers are examining domestic animals to evaluate whether livestock could serve as viral reservoirs. More than 70 blood samples from cattle, buffaloes, and goats, along with raw milk samples, have been collected for diagnostic screening.
Simultaneously, scientists at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre in Gandhinagar are conducting whole-genome sequencing on clinical isolates from the current outbreak. Preliminary genomic findings show minor genetic variations, though experts note that further comparative analyses are required to determine if the active strain differs significantly from historical strains.
The ongoing efforts build upon infrastructure provided by India’s Hospital-based Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) surveillance network, which operates across 15 tertiary care hospitals nationwide using standardized molecular diagnostics and next-generation sequencing. Findings from the NJORT field investigation will be submitted to the Health Ministry to refine clinical guidelines and bolster national outbreak preparedness.
