Chandipura virus: Whats the rare infection that causes flu symptoms, vomiting and swelling of brain? [Video]

At least eight Indian children have died in the past week from suspected infection by the relatively unknown Chandipura virus, sparking concerns about an encephalitis outbreak.

Seven children are fighting for their lives in hospital, Rushikesh Patel, health minister in the western Gujarat state, said.

Chandipura virus, or CHPV, is named after Chandipura village in coastal Maharashtra state where it was first identified during an investigation into a dengue and chikungunya outbreak in 1965.

An RNA virus of the Rhabdoviridae family, which includes the rabies virus, it primarily affects children and is associated with outbreaks of acute encephalitis in India.

“This disease occurs by the sting of a vector-infected sandfly and mainly affects children aged 9 months to 14 years,” Mr Patel was quoted as saying by India Today.

“It is seen …