An outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) among children from Nagpur division, Maharashtra was investigated to confirm the aetiology and to describe clinico-epidemiological features.
A total of 78 AES cases were recorded in children <15 yr of age. Case fatality ratio was 43.6 per cent. Male to female ratio was 11.2. Chandipura (CHP) was confirmed in 39 cases. CHPV RNA was detected in both CSF and serum specimens of 2 cases and in serum of 22 cases. Phylogenetic analysis showed 99.98 – 100 per cent nucleotide identity in the sequences studied. Anti-CHPV IgMantibodies were detected in CSF of 2 cases and in serum of 8 cases. Seroconversion to anti-CHPV IgMantibodies was observed in 5 cases. Clinical manifestations of CHP cases (n=38) were fever (100%), convulsion (76.3%), altered sensorium (34.2%), headache (23.7%), vomiting (44.7%) and diarrhoea (23.7%). CHPV RNA was detected in one of two pools of sandflies from affected locality. Interpretation &