Mallapuram, Kerala:

Kerala Health Minister Veena George convened a high-level meeting today in Kerala’s Malappuram district after reports of a suspected case of the ‘Nipah’ virus in the state.

The meeting discussed the measures to be taken to prevent the spread of the virus and to ensure the safety of the public. The officials also reviewed the current situation and the steps taken so far to control the outbreak.

Minister Veena George reached Malappuram to lead the efforts to control the outbreak. The government has also constituted committees to oversee the implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Nipah virus control.

The meeting was attended by top officials, including the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, the Director of the National Health Mission, and the District Collectors of Malappuram and Kozhikode.

As per officials, the samples of the suspected patient were sent to the Pune virology lab.

Earlier last month, the Kerala Health Minister announced that Nipah prevention efforts will be intensified in the state, particularly during the critical months of May to September, when the virus is most likely to spread.

Minister George emphasized the importance of extreme caution and outlined several key preventive measures.

She urged the public not to destroy bat habitats, as disturbing them could increase the risk of virus transmission. Additionally, she advised against consuming fruits that have been bitten by birds and drinking honey from banana peels, both of which could be contaminated by bats.

Veena George also highlighted the necessity of proper hygiene, recommending that hands should be thoroughly washed with soap and water if they come into contact with bats, their excrement, or objects they have bitten.

She stressed the importance of educating children about these precautions to ensure community-wide awareness and safety.

The Nipah virus, transmitted from animals to humans, can lead to severe illness and fatalities.

On May 19, 2018, a Nipah virus disease (NiV) outbreak was reported in Kozhikode district of Kerala. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there were 17 deaths and 18 confirmed cases as of June 1, 2018. The two affected districts were Kozhikode and Mallapuram.

The Nipah outbreak reported in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts of Kerala in May 2018 was the third Nipah virus outbreak in India, the earlier being in 2001 and 2007, both in West Bengal.
 

Thiruvananthapuram:

Determined to prevent the spread of Nipah virus, the Kerala government has swung into action as soon as four cases of infection were confirmed in Kozhikode. The state government has planned a pre-emptive approach to curb the spread of infection. Kerala’s earlier fights against the Nipah virus, dreaded for its high fatality rates, had earned international acclaim.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George has said the state is aiming for “proactive detection” of infection before cases are confirmed in labs. The health administration is monitoring clinical symptoms so that alerts can be sounded in advance.

The state administration, Ms George said, is focusing on tracing contacts of infected persons early and isolating those with symptoms.

Nipah infection can cause problems ranging from respiratory issues to fatal encephalitis – meaning inflammation of the brain. The symptoms include fever, headache, cough, difficulty breathing and vomiting. As the infection becomes more serious, patients can experience disorientation, seizures and may also sleep into a coma.

Responding to a question in Assembly today, the health minister said seven village panchayats — Atanchery, Maruthonkara, Tiruvallur, Kuttiyadi, Kayakkodi, Villyapalli, and Kavilumpara — in Kozhikode district have been declared containment zones. The creation of containment zones is part of the state government’s strategy to limit the spread of infection.

To protect children from getting infected, Education Minister V Sivankutty has directed schools to opt for online exams.

Teams from the National Institute of Virology would reach the southern state today to carry out a survey. A team of epidemiologists from Chennai is also on its way to Kerala.

Ms George said in Assembly today that the virus strain in Kerala was the Bangladesh variant that spreads from human to human and has a high mortality rate. However, she said, this strain is less infectious.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asked people not to panic and to take precautions instead. “Everyone should strictly follow the instructions of the health department and the police and fully cooperate with the restrictions,” he has said.

The Union Health Ministry has confirmed that two people have died of the infection so far – one on August 30 and the other on Monday.

The zoonotic virus that can spread from animals to humans and then among humans. Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are hosts for Nipah virus.