13 deaths in 25 days,fears of Chandipura virus attack

Chandipura virus attack is caused by the bite of sand fly that breeds during monsoon. “The patient gets fever that appears normal initially. So,the parents don’t think of shifting the child to hospital immediately. But it can do the damage within two-three hours. And there is no medicine to check it once it deteriorates,” Zare said. “In 2010,31 deaths were registered in June-October period,of which 15 had tested positive for Chandipura. Rest had died of encephalitis. In 2011,the total death tally was 12 in the same five-month period,with three cases testing positive for Chandipura virus.”

Asked why the attack this time is so severe,Zare said,“If monsoon rains are good to heavy,sand fly can’t breed. But this time,the monsoon has been poor,so the fly has been breeding fast… Due to poor monsoon,the attack is likely to continue to be severe in the days to come.”

On measures initiated,Zare said,“Insecticide spraying on the sand fly breeding places has been undertaken. The fly grows mainly in animal dung,slushy,marshy areas like paddy fields,nullahs and sewers.”