Trend of Chandipura viral encephalitis in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, India

M. B. Jagtap^a, R. B. Mugade^b, A. S. Bhosale^c, Asawari Sathe^d & T. V. Sathe^a*
^a Dept. of Zoology, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Pin- 416008, India
^bNational Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Kolhapur- 416008, India
^cNational Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Pune, India.
^dCivil Hospital, Oros, district Sindhudurg, Maharashtra.
Received 11th December, 2010; Revised 7th February, 2011

Abstract : Chandipura virus (CHP) is responsible for causing encephalitis in human being. In about 40 years after the discovery of CHP encephalitis in 1965, an acute encephalitis disease with high mortality was attributed. In India 1980 CHP virus was isolated from serum of patients of acute encephalitis from Raipur, Jabalpur, and Madya Pradesh. The data on a trend of encephalitis reported from Vidarbha region, districts Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Vardha, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli during the years 2002-2005 indicates that the average death cases in above districts in the year 2002 were 28 and peaked in 2003 with 85 death cases. Later, decrease trend, 21 and 19 deaths in the years 2004 and 2005respectively was noticed. The main reason of decreasing the cases was action point programme implemented by Health Department of Government of Maharashtra. The trend is discussed with respect to age and sex of the patients in the region.

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