Chandipura Virus 2026: NJORT Sent to Gujarat and Rajasthan

NJORT deployed as Chandipura virus outbreak probed in Gujarat, Rajasthan

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Battle Brief

On 5 August 2026 the Health Ministry deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to Gujarat and Rajasthan for the Chandipura Virus Disease outbreak. The team draws experts from NCDC, ICMR and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Scientists are also checking whether insects other than sandflies spread the virus and whether animals carry it.

Fact File

Released: 5 Aug 2026, MoHFW
Team: NJORT: NCDC, ICMR, DAHD
States: Gujarat and Rajasthan
Support: NCDC Public Health Emergency Operations Centre activated
Known vector: sandflies
Approach: One Health: human, animal and vector surveillance

In the news

The Chandipura virus outbreak response: what happened?

Chandipura virus can cause anything from mild fever to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). The response here is a good example of One Health: doctors, vector scientists and vets working on one outbreak together.

Active surveillance of Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) and AES cases in affected districts; community serosurveys for hidden infections.
Mosquitoes, ticks and mites are being tested for a possible role; officials say it is too early to name the vector.
Around 70 animal blood samples (cattle, buffaloes, goats) plus milk samples are being tested.
Whole-genome sequencing at GBRC, Gandhinagar shows minor genetic variations so far.
A Hospital-based AES Surveillance Network of 15 tertiary hospitals supports the work.

Back Story

What did the 2024 outbreak teach?

In the 2024 Gujarat outbreak, several vector species including sandflies were tested, but all were negative for the virus.
No specific vector could be conclusively implicated then.

Why examiners care

Why does the Chandipura virus outbreak response matter?

Public health: Joint teams speed up investigation and response.
One Health: Animal reservoirs and vectors are studied with human cases.

Exam Radar

What can Prelims ask on the Chandipura virus outbreak response?

Chandipura virus: sandflies are the established vector.
NJORT: NCDC + ICMR + DAHD.
Disease surveillance: IDSP, coordinated by NCDC.
GBRC, Gandhinagar: genome sequencing.

How to use this in Mains

GS-II Issues relating to development and management of health

As per PIB (2026-08-05): health Ministry deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team to Gujarat and Rajasthan for the Chandipura virus outbreak.
The outbreak response brings human and animal health teams together.

Quotable data point
Health Ministry deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team to Gujarat and Rajasthan for the Chandipura virus outbreak.
PIB: Health: Chandipura NJORT, 5 Aug 2026

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

The established vector of Chandipura virus is the

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB (MoHFW), 5 Aug 2026.

Quick questions

Questions students ask about this

What is NJORT?

A National Joint Outbreak Response Team of experts from NCDC, ICMR and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

Which vector spreads Chandipura virus?

Sandflies are the established vectors; scientists are checking whether mosquitoes, ticks and mites have a role in this outbreak.

Why are animals being tested?

To find out if domestic animals act as reservoirs of the virus.