Recently, it was verified by Kerala Health Minister Veena George that a recently deceased man from Malappuram tested positive for the Nipah virus. Once samples were sent to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital for testing, which verified the virus, the person who had traveled from Bengaluru passed away on September 9. The Nipah infection was further confirmed on September 14 by findings from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.
Following confirmation, a high-level conference was called to begin implementing the required process. A list of 151 contacts was found, and 16 committees were established to keep an eye on the circumstances. Five individuals with mild symptoms (fever, for example) were segregated, and their samples were sent out for additional analysis.
Kerala has already had to contend with several Nipah virus outbreaks. Malappuram is not the first place to experience an outbreak; Kozhikode, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode all saw outbreaks in 2018, 2021, and 2023. It has been discovered that bats, who are known to be Nipah virus carriers, are infected with the virus in a number of districts, including Kozhikode, Wayanad, Idukki, Malappuram, and Ernakulam.
The Kerala Health Department said earlier this year that an outbreak of Nipah in Malappuram had been successfully suppressed. All limitations were removed following a 42-day double incubation period. According to the Health Minister, 472 individuals who were under monitoring were taken off the contact list after they had no symptoms. The special control room that was established to keep an eye on things was shut off.
The Keralan government took a number of steps to suppress the virus during the outbreak. Early on, contact tracing was initiated, and twenty-five committees were established. To handle the situation, specialized fever clinics and Nipah control rooms were established. The medical colleges in Manjeri and Kozhikode set up intensive care units. Volunteers made sure that those under monitoring received necessities like food and medication.
The state’s calculated reaction reduced the disturbance while stopping the virus’s spread. Kerala’s strategy for managing Nipah epidemics over the years has been centered on early detection, containment, and ongoing surveillance.
SOURCE :
ECONOMIC TIMES
