Nepal, May 2 -- Chandipura was first detected in Nepal in 2015. The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) confirmed that six out of the 25 acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) cases reported during epidemiological week 48 were caused by the virus. These cases were reported from the districts of Morang, Sunsari, Saptari and Makwanpur. Since then, there have been no official reports of Chandipura virus in the country. However, this does not rule out the possibility of its re-emergence. Sandflies, the known vector responsible for this virus, are well established in the country. So, it is imperative to discuss the significance of the threat posed by the virus in Nepal.

Chandipura virus belongs to the family Rhabdoviridae, which also ...