Kerala has five positive Nipah cases after a 24-year-old healthcare provider tested positive. The state administration has announced confinement areas and limitations to stop the spread of the virus, with around 77 of the 700 people in contact with the patients falling under the high-risk category. The Nipah virus can infect humans with infected animals or tainted food.
The outbreak led to restrictions on large crowds during events and containment zones in Kozhikode district. A nine-year-old boy gets treated with a monoclonal antibody from ICMR, but he requires assistance from a ventilator. The Dakshina Kannada region of Karnataka is on high alert due to the Nipah outbreak.
After the discovery of 5 Nipah-related cases, Kerala is on high alert
Kerala previously reported Nipah outbreaks, once in 2018 and a few lone cases in 2019 and 2021. Of the 18 patients, 17 passed away in 2018.
Almost 700 people came into contact with the patients
The state now has five positive cases after a 24-year-old healthcare provider who had close contact with a Nipah patient tested positive on Wednesday. The contact list of the patients has become a source of concern as the state administration is announcing confinement areas and limitations to stop the spread of the virus, as 700 people came into contact with the patients.
According to Kerala’s health minister, Veena George, roughly 77 of these 700 people fall under the high-risk category.
About Nipah Virus
An infectious virus called Nipah can infect humans when it comes into contact with infected animals or tainted food. Infected individuals can then spread the disease to others. Fever, headache, coughing, breathing difficulties, and vomiting are some of the symptoms, and in severe cases, they can cause brain death due to swelling of the brain.
Kerala is experiencing a Nipah outbreak
# It initially requested that the high-risk Nipah patients stay in their homes. The two Nipah patients’ connections became public so others wouldn’t follow them.
# In Kozhikode, limitations are put in place that prohibit large crowds from congregating during events like festivals.
# In the Kozhikode district’s Vadakara taluk, 58 wards spread across nine panchayats seemed designated containment zones. Only entry and exit are allowable in these areas, along with essential services.
# In Kozhikode, a nine-year-old boy has an infection, and authorities are looking for a monoclonal antibody from ICMR to treat him. Although there is no clinical evidence that it can treat Nipah, this is the only option. The boy gets assistance from a ventilator.
# About 700 people, including 76 high-risk individuals, got in contact with the patients. They are all stable, according to the minister.
# The outbreak, this time, came exclusive to Kozhikode. Minister Veena George claimed that studies by the WHO and ICMR indicate that such infections can spread throughout Kerala.
# This time, the Nipah strain discovered in Kerala is the Bangladesh variant, which has a high mortality rate despite being less contagious.
# The Dakshina Kannada region of Karnataka is on high alert due to the Nipah breakout in Kerala.
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