# 22 children dead in Gujarat Chandipura outbreak, virus hits youngest hardest 2026-08-07T09:27:14+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Twenty-two children have died of Chandipura virus in Gujarat this monsoon, with 35 confirmed cases out of 184 suspected infections, said Health Minister Praful Panseriya. Seven more children are under treatment. All patients are below 15. Rajasthan has reported three confirmed cases from Dungarpur and Sirohi. The virus, first identified in 1965 in Maharashtra’s Chandipura village, spreads mainly through sandfly bites. Children below five are most vulnerable because their developing brains and immature immune defences make them prone to severe encephalitis. There is no specific vaccine or antiviral treatment; supportive care is the only option. ## Coverage - timesnownews.com - thehindu.com - livemint.com Tags: Chandipura virus, child health, encephalitis, Gujarat, sandflies Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/chandipura-virus-kills-22-children-in-gujarat-this-monsoon/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/chandipura-virus-kills-22-children-in-gujarat-this-monsoon/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.