Kerala Nipah Virus Update; Kozhikode Schools, Colleges Shut Till 24th September | These include 327 health workers; Schools and colleges closed till 24th September in Kozhikode due to virus

One more person has been confirmed infected with Nipah virus in Kozhikode, Kerala on Friday. With this, there have been four active cases of Nipah virus in the state.

After the sixth case of Nipah virus was found in Kozhikode, Kerala, an order has been issued to keep all schools, colleges and tuition centers closed till September 24. Educational institutions have been closed since September 14. On the other hand, the number of people who came in contact with those infected with Nipah virus has increased to 1008.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that 327 of these are health workers. 29 people have come in contact with the infected outside Kozhikode district. Contact tracing has identified 22 people from Malappuram, 1 from Wayanad and 3 each from Kannur-Thrissur districts.

The Health Minister said that this figure may increase further. The first death due to Nipah virus in Kozhikode occurred on August 30 and the second on September 11. 17 people had attended the funeral of the deceased on August 30. All of them have been kept in isolation.

In the meeting regarding Nipah virus on Friday, Health Minister Veena George and Public Works Department Minister P.A. Mohammad Riyas.

A 9 year old child is also included in 4 active cases of Nipah.
The health department in Kerala on Friday confirmed that a person (39) has been infected with Nipah virus in Kozhikode. With this, there were four active cases of Nipah virus in Kozhikode. Among these, the condition of a 9 year old child is critical. He is admitted in ICU.

Death rate due to Nipah virus is much higher than Corona
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) DG Rajiv Bahl said on Friday that the mortality rate due to Nipah virus is 40-70%. This is much higher than the death rate due to corona virus. The mortality rate from corona is 2-3%.

ICMR said that the reason for the spread of Nipah virus in Kerala is not clear. However, in view of the high mortality rate, ICMR has appealed for caution. People in Kerala have been advised to follow social distancing, wear masks and stay away from raw food that has come in contact with bats.

In Kozhikode, a team of health workers reached the house of a patient infected with Nipah virus on Friday.

The team of health workers collected clinical samples from the patient’s home and surroundings.

India asked for 20 doses of monoclonal antibodies from Australia
ICMR said that India has asked for 20 more doses of monoclonal antibodies from Australia for the treatment of Nipah virus. Right now we have only 10 doses.

When the antibodies present in our body are made in the laboratory, it is called monoclonal antibody. It is helpful in the treatment of many diseases including cancer.

So far, only 14 people infected with Nipah have been given monoclonal antibodies outside India. The lives of all of them have been saved. India had ordered monoclonal antibody doses from Australia in 2018. That year, 17 people died due to Nipah in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts of Kerala.

Karnataka government issued circular
The government has issued a circular in Kerala’s neighboring state Karnataka. In this, the general public has been advised to avoid traveling in the affected areas of Kerala. In the circular, officials have also been ordered to intensify surveillance in the districts bordering Kerala (Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Chamarajanagar and Mysore).

The first case of Nipah was found in Malaysia 25 years ago.
According to WHO (World Health Organization), Nipah virus was first detected in Sungai Nipah village, Malaysia in 1998. It was named Nipah after the name of this village. Then the pig rearing farmers were found infected with this virus.

According to the report of the Malaysia case, cases of infection spread through pets like dogs, cats, goats, horses were also reported. After Malaysia, this virus was also detected in Singapore in the same year.

After this, in 2001, patients infected with this virus were also found in Bangladesh. After some time, Nipah virus patients started being found around the Indian border with Bangladesh also.

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