Outbreak of Chandipura virus in India largest in 20 years: WHO
New Delhi, Aug 28: The WHO has recently said the current outbreak of the Chandipura virus in India is the largest in 20 years.
According to the global health body, between early June and August 15, the Ministry of Health reported 245 cases of AES (Acute Encephalitis Syndrome), including 82 deaths (case fatality rate or CFR 33 per cent).
A total of 43 districts in India are currently reporting AES cases.
Of these, 64 are confirmed cases of the Chandipura virus (CHPV) infection.
"CHPV is endemic in India, with previous outbreaks occurring regularly. However, the current outbreak is the largest in the past 20 years," the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in its Disease Outbreak news on August 23.
CHPV is a member of the Rhabdoviridae family and is known to cause sporadic cases and outbreaks of AES in western, central and southern parts of India, especially during the monsoon season.
Cases are sporadically present across various districts as in previous outbreaks. Notably, there is a rise in CHPV outbreaks every four to five years in Gujarat.
It is transmitted by vectors such as sandflies, mosquitoes and ticks. The CFR from the CHPV infection is high (56-75 per cent) and there is no specific treatment or vaccine available.
"Survival can be increased with early access to care and intensive supportive care of patients," the WHO said.
Surveillance efforts should be enhanced in high-risk areas, focusing on people at risks, such as children below 15 years of age presenting with acute onset of fever and central nervous system symptoms, it said.
It is important to ensure that laboratory diagnostic capacities are available, including for timely collection, transport and testing of serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples for serological and virological investigation at a referral laboratory, the WHO said.
A declining trend in the number of new AES cases has been observed daily since July 19, it added.
To date, no human-to-human transmission has been reported.
In 2003, a large outbreak of AES was reported in Andhra Pradesh, with 329 suspected cases and 183 deaths. A study suggests that this was due to CHPV.
Although authorities are working to control CHPV transmission, further transmission of the virus is possible in the coming weeks as the monsoon season is creating favourable conditions for vector populations in the affected areas.
The WHO recommended vector control and protection against the bites of sandflies, mosquitoes and ticks to prevent the further spread of CHPV.
Highlighting the control and prevention measures, the WHO said the Union health ministry has deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to assist the Gujarat government in undertaking public health measures and for conducting a detailed epidemiological investigation into the outbreak.
Comprehensive insecticidal spraying and fumigation are being carried out to control vectors, such as sandflies, that transmit the virus.
Initiatives are underway to provide information to the public and medical personnel about the virus, its symptoms and preventive measures.
The WHO further said the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) is actively researching to identify other viruses causing encephalitis and is closely monitoring the situation.
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Rupee falls 20 paise to 95.43 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated 20 paise to 95.43 against US dollar in early trade on Tuesday as market sentiments remained fragile after renewed military exchanges between US and Iranian forces in the Gulf region.
Forex traders said investor anxiety due to instability in the Gulf is causing massive capital flight into safe-haven assets, with the US dollar acting as the primary beneficiary.
Moreover, Brent oil prices is hovering near USD 113 per barrel, maintaining pressure on oil-importing economies like India.
At the interbank foreign exchange market the rupee opened at 95.30 then lost ground to touch 95.43 against the US dollar, in initial trade, registering a fall of 20 paise over its previous close.
Rupee fell 39 paise to close at an all-time low of 95.23 against the US dollar on Monday.
"With oil boiling rupee on Monday fell to a closing low of 95.0875 and this morning the opening was still lower as it becomes more and more vulnerable when dollar index rises due to safe-haven buying and oil prices rise due to the continuous fighting in the Gulf Region," Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director, Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said.
The higher oil prices will keep rupee sold off against the dollar as oil companies and FPIs intensify dollar buying, Bhansali added.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading at 98.51, up 0.15 per cent.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading lower by 1.07 per cent at USD 113.22 per barrel in futures trade.
"Market sentiments remained fragile after renewed military exchanges between US and Iranian forces when Iranian forces launched fresh attacks in the Gulf as both sides sought to assert control over the strategic waterway," Bhansali said.
On the domestic equity market front, Sensex declined 361.62 points to 76,907.78 in early trade, while the Nifty dropped 134.90 points to 23,980.60.
Foreign Institutional Investors purchased equities worth Rs 2,835.62 crore on Monday, according to exchange data.
