Nipah Alert In Kerala: Kozhikode To Shut Educational Institutions On Thursday, Friday — Top Points

Till now, five patients have tested positive for the virus since the outbreak.

Former Health Minister K Shailaja told the residents not to worry about the Nipah outbreak since the situation was not as scary as it was in 2018.  ( Image Source :ANI )

Kerala officials have said that all educational institutions in Kerala's Kozhikode will remain closed on Thursday and Friday due to the outbreak of the Nipah virus in the district. Till now, five patients have tested positive for the virus since the outbreak. Of the five patients, two patients have died of the virus infection. The last patient to test positive was a 24-year-old health worker of a private hospital in Kozhikode district. 

 

According to PTI, Officials said, "All educational institutions in Kerala's Kozhikode will remain closed on Thursday and Friday in view of Nipah outbreak."

 

All educational institutions in Kerala's Kozhikode will remain closed on Thursday and Friday in view of Nipah outbreak: Officials

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 14, 2023

 

 

Nipah Outbreak: Top Points 

• Central health team arrived in Kerala's Kozhikode to meet the district administration over Nipah virus outbreak
   

  #WATCH | Central health team arrives in Kerala's Kozhikode to meet the district administration over Nipah virus outbreak pic.twitter.com/YjYEWNnzQl

  — ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2023

   

   

• Kerala has also ordered anti-viral medicine available from ICMR. "We have ordered the monoclonal antibody with the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) and it will be brought to Kozhikode soon. The imported medicine is already available with the ICMR," Health Minister Veena George said. The effort is to treat a 9-year-old boy who is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Kozhikode. The boy is on ventilator support and his condition continues to remain critical. The monoclonal antibody is the only available anti-viral treatment for Nipah virus infection. However, it has not been clinically proven yet.
• Overall, the Health Department has identified 706 primary and secondary contacts. Of the total, 77 persons are in high-risk category while 153 healthcare workers are in low-risk category. Another 13 persons are kept under observation since they show mild symptoms. 
• Avoid Public Gatherings: The residents of Kozhikode were previously directed to avoid mass gatherings till September 24. 
• The government said, the virus strain seen in the state was the Bangladesh variant that spreads from human to human and has a high mortality rate, though it is less infectious. 
• Former Health Minister K Shailaja told the residents not to worry about the Nipah outbreak since the situation was not as scary as it was in 2018. 
• Kerala Health Minister Veena George flagged-off mobile virology lab which is going to the Nipah containment zone in Kozhikode district. "We had a higher level meeting this morning and after that Principal Secretary had a meeting with officials of Union Govt. We have decided to take samples of all the persons who are in the high-risk contact list of the first person, who died on 30th August. The hospitals where the positive (Nipah) patients are being treated, they should have a medical board and every 12 hours, they have to give a medical report to the health department", said Kerala Health Minister Veena George.