Another death is suspected from the Nipah virus in Palakkad, Kerala. The government has issued an alert in 6 districts. 46 people who came into contact with the infected are being monitored.
Nipah Virus in Kerala: The threat of the Nipah virus looms again in Kerala. On June 12, a person died in Palakkad district, and the report confirmed the presence of the Nipah virus. However, the report from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune is awaited for final confirmation. The deceased had been ill for some time and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
Health Minister Confirms the Situation
State Health Minister Veena George said that the deceased's sample was sent for testing to Manjeri Medical College, where it was found Nipah positive. The government has taken immediate steps considering the seriousness of the situation and increased surveillance to prevent Nipah infection.
Second Suspected Nipah Death in Kerala
This is the second suspected death from the Nipah virus in Kerala. Earlier, a person's death in Malappuram district was also suspected to be due to the Nipah virus. Taking both cases seriously, the government has issued a high alert in the state.
Alert in Six Districts
To prevent Nipah infection, the government has issued an alert in the hospitals of six districts in the state—Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Wayanad, and Thrissur. These hospitals have been given strict instructions that it is mandatory for all patients and staff to wear masks. If any patient shows symptoms like high fever, a Nipah test will be done immediately.
Contact Tracing Begins, 46 People Under Monitoring
The government has started contact tracing to identify people who came in contact with the deceased. A list of 46 people has been prepared so far, who were in direct contact with these cases. These 46 people had contacted a total of 543 other people. All these people are being monitored, and their list has been prepared by the government.
What is Nipah Virus?
The Nipah virus is a dangerous zoonotic infection that spreads from animals to humans and then from humans to humans. This virus is mainly spread from bats and pigs. This virus spreads very quickly from an infected person to another person.
Nipah virus infection is extremely deadly, and an infected person can experience fever, headache, difficulty breathing, and neurological problems. In many cases, it proves to be fatal.
World Health Organization Warning
According to WHO, there is no vaccine available against the Nipah virus yet. In such a situation, only caution and vigilance are the greatest measures to prevent its spread. To prevent infection, it is necessary for the government to continuously keep health services, the public, and hospitals aware and alert.
