Nipah Virus In Kerala: No New Cases, Govt Looking For Origins Of Fresh Outbreak, Health Minister Says
Nipah Virus In Kerala: 94 samples from individuals on the high-risk contact list have tested negative for the virus, Health Minister Veena George informed.
After successfully identifying the index case of the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, the state government has initiated efforts to trace the source of infection. Authorities are seeking information about the individual's mobile tower locations to pinpoint the place where he contracted the virus, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said on Saturday. She informed that while the state government works to uncover the origin of the infection, a central team is collecting bat samples to determine the viral load.
Furthermore, she reported that there have been no new positive cases as in a reassuring development for the state, 94 samples from individuals on the high-risk contact list have tested negative for the virus, news agency PTI reported.
George also mentioned that the state's proactive measures in combatting the virus outbreak have garnered appreciation from the central team.
ALSO READ | 'Nipah Mortality Rate Is Between 40-70%': ICMR Chief Outlines Precautions Amid Outbreak In Kerala
The government is prioritising contact tracing for the sixth person, confirmed to be infected with the virus on Friday, the health minister told reporters.
Meanwhile, 21 individuals at Kozhikode Medical College and two children at the Institute of Maternal and Child Health (IMCH) remain in isolation, she confirmed.
All individuals receiving treatment for the virus or in isolation, including a nine-year-old boy on a ventilator, are reportedly in stable condition.
The infected individuals are part of the initial wave of the infection, which has manifested in two clusters. One cluster comprises two family members of the index case, while the other consists of individuals who came into contact with him at the hospital where he sought treatment.
The index case, identified as the man who succumbed on August 30, was only later discovered to be infected with Nipah. His nine-year-old son and brother-in-law are still receiving treatment, along with two others, one of whom is a healthcare worker who interacted with him at the hospital.
The second fatality due to Nipah occurred on September 11, and this victim had also been in contact with the index case at the same hospital, Minister George disclosed.
Regarding the monoclonal antibody, considered the primary therapeutic option against the virus, the minister indicated that, according to the Centre, its stability stands at 50-60%. The Centre has recommended that the state government explore the possibility of obtaining a new version of the antibody. Presently, the medical consensus among doctors is that patients under treatment do not require it.
However, the state government has sought the Centre's assistance in expediting the process of importing the monoclonal antibody, a request that has received assurances.
Minister George further revealed that a core committee meeting was convened earlier to outline the forthcoming course of action.
State Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas, who joined Minister George at the press briefing, commended the control room, call centres, and volunteers for their exceptional efforts in instilling public confidence and raising awareness about the virus.
Nipah Virus In Kerala: All Areas Visited By Index Case Declared Containment Zones
Meanwhile, Kozhikode city mayor Beena Philip announced that all areas visited by the index case have been declared containment zones, given his extensive movement. This development is expected to expand the contact tracing list.
Kozhikode District Collector A Geetha disclosed arrangements for online classes in educational institutions for the upcoming week, advising students not to partake in holiday-related celebrations.
In response to containment measures, Beypore harbour will remain closed until further notice, as it falls within one of the containment zones. Alternative locations for fishing vessel landings and catch sales have been provided.
On Friday, the Centre decided to procure an additional 20 doses of the monoclonal antibody from Australia through the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for treating Nipah-infected individuals.
The Kerala Health department identified a total of 1,080 people on the contact list of positive patients after it said that testing will be conducted for everyone on the high-risk contact list of infected persons.
The ICMR's National Institute of Virology (NIV) dispatched its mobile BSL-3 (Biosafety Level-3) laboratory to Kozhikode to analyse virus samples from the district.
The current outbreak marks the fourth occurrence of the viral infection in the state, having previously been detected in Kozhikode in 2018 and 2021, and in Ernakulam in 2019. Studies by the World Health Organization and ICMR have indicated that the entire state, not just Kozhikode, is susceptible to such infections.
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