Key Highlights * National Joint Outbreak Response Team dispatched to Gujarat and Rajasthan. * Collaboration of NCDC, ICMR, and DAHD to investigate and monitor spread. * Enhanced surveillance of Acute Febrile Illness and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome cases. * Multi‑disciplinary research on transmission, clinical features, and genetics. * Activation of Public Health Emergency Operations Centre for rapid field action. Detailed Insights The Central Government’s strategy hinges on coordinated scientific inquiry and real‑time surveillance. The NJORT, comprising experts from the National Centre for Disease Control, Indian Council of Medical Research, and Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, will conduct epidemiological studies, improve diagnostic capacity, and guide patient management across the affected states. Simultaneously, a consortium of research institutes—National Virology Institute, National Institute of Epidemiology, National Institute of Vector‑Borne Diseases Research, and National Veterinary Epidemiology Institute—has been assembled to dissect the virus’s transmission dynamics, symptomatology, and genetic makeup. Findings will inform evidence‑based containment measures. Field teams are intensifying monitoring of suspected cases, focusing on Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). Community surveys assess infection prevalence, asymptomatic carriage, and viral load, enabling authorities to pinpoint vulnerable populations and allocate resources efficiently. Key Concepts * Chandipura Virus – A vesicular stomatitis virus‑like pathogen first identified in India, causing febrile illness and encephalitis. * National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) – A multidisciplinary task force formed by NCDC, ICMR, and DAHD to coordinate outbreak investigation and response. * Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) – A national framework that integrates surveillance data from all states to detect and respond to communicable disease threats.