Gujarat Health Minister Rashikesh Patil announced that at least 16 people have died in the state due to the "Chandipur" virus, for which there is no vaccine or drug to treat those infected.
It is worth noting that infection with this virus has been officially recorded in India only, where 50 cases were reported in the state of Gujarat and three in other states, 16 of whom died.
Earlier this week, state authorities announced 29 cases and one death.
Chandipur virus was first discovered in 1965 in the village of Chandipur in Maharashtra, India. The virus is transmitted through bites of ticks, mosquitoes and phlebotomines.
Interestingly, this virus has not been studied in detail yet, so there is no vaccine or drug to treat it. The symptoms of infection with the virus are similar to those of influenza or acute encephalitis. It is especially dangerous for children. The Indian Ministry of Health periodically records outbreaks of this disease. The death rate among infected people during the outbreak of the virus in 2003-2004 in central India was 56-75 percent.