The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to Gujarat and Rajasthan to strengthen efforts to contain the ongoing Chandipura Virus Disease (CHPV) outbreak. The multidisciplinary team, comprising experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), will support state authorities in outbreak investigation, epidemiological assessment, clinical management, laboratory coordination, vector surveillance, and public health interventions.

The deployment comes as multiple national research institutions intensify investigations into the virus's transmission, clinical profile, epidemiology, and potential treatment approaches. The NCDC's Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) has also been activated to coordinate the response.

As part of the nationwide investigation, scientists are conducting active surveillance for acute febrile illness and acute encephalitis syndrome, community serosurveys, genome sequencing, and laboratory studies to better understand the virus. Researchers are also examining whether vectors beyond sandflies, including mosquitoes, ticks, and mites, play a role in transmission, while surveillance has been expanded to test domestic animals such as cattle, buffaloes, and goats for possible virus circulation.

Authorities said preliminary genome sequencing has identified minor genetic variations in the virus, but further analysis is required to determine whether the current strain has significantly evolved. The Centre said the coordinated response reflects a "One Health" approach integrating human, animal, and vector surveillance to strengthen outbreak control and public health preparedness.