Kerala, a state in southern India, is dealing with its fourth Nipah virus outbreak since 2018, which has health officials extremely concerned.
The pathogen claimed two lives, one earlier this month and the other on August 30, both in the Kozhikode district.
Two Relatives Test Positive in Kerala’s Nipah Outbreak
Two relatives of a victim have tested positive for the virus and are currently receiving medical care, heightening the alarm.
Nipah virus infection is classified as a ‘zoonotic illness’ transmitted to humans from animals such as pigs and fruit bats.
The virus can also spread through contaminated food and person-to-person contact.
Its symptoms are highly variable, with some infected individuals exhibiting no symptoms and others experiencing severe respiratory problems.
In extreme instances, a Nipah infection can result in neonatal encephalitis, a severe brain disorder.
Nipah is particularly concerning due to its high mortality rate, as there is currently no medication or vaccine to combat the infection.
Medical intervention is restricted to symptom management and supportive care.
In response to the epidemic, Mansukh Mandaviya, India’s Minister of Health, announced that the federal government has dispatched a team of experts to Kerala to assess the situation and assist the state government in managing the outbreak.
Veena George, the state’s minister of health, disclosed that tests verified the virus strain in the current outbreak is identical to the one discovered in Bangladesh.
Teams from the National Institute of Virology in Pune are establishing a mobile lab at Kozhikode Medical College to conduct virus testing and surveys on bats, which are possible virus carriers.
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Kerala Takes Action During Nipah Outbreak
To prevent the spread of the virus, the state government has established a control room in Kozhikode and instructed healthcare professionals to adhere to stringent infection control protocols.
Seven villages in the district of Kozhikode have been designated as containment zones, resulting in the temporary closure of some schools and offices.
Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of Kerala, advised the public to exercise caution by donning face shields and visiting hospitals only in cases of emergency.
However, he emphasized that there is no cause for alarm, as those who had contact with the infected individuals are receiving treatment.
In 2018, Kozhikode experienced a severe pandemic in Nipah, with 17 of 18 confirmed cases resulting in fatalities.
In subsequent years, there were sporadic cases, including one in 2019 that resulted in recovery and one in 2021 that was fatal.
The increased risk of zoonotic diseases such as Nipah has been attributed by experts to habitat loss caused by accelerated urbanization and deforestation in Kerala.
As animals and humans live closer together, the likelihood of the virus passing from animals to humans increases, highlighting the significance of preserving natural ecosystems to prevent the emergence of fatal diseases.
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