The outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in Kerala’s Kozhikode district has prompted the administration to introduce containment zones reminiscent of the Covid era in nine panchayats. In response to two reported deaths from this brain-damaging virus, which causes respiratory distress and encephalitis, authorities are working diligently to identify high-risk contacts.
Currently, five more patients infected with the Nipah virus are undergoing treatment at local hospitals. Notably, this marks the fourth outbreak of the Nipah virus in Kerala since its initial appearance in 2018.
In light of recent developments, containment zones have been established within a five-kilometer radius of the residences of the two individuals who succumbed to Nipah virus infection on August 30 and September 11.
The state took precautionary measures by sending 11 additional samples to Pune’s National Institute of Virology for testing, with results returning negative for the virus, offering relief to the government.
Furthermore, samples from an additional 15 individuals on the high-risk contact list have been dispatched for testing. In response to the outbreak, a specialized team consisting of experts from the National Centre for Disease Control, RML Hospital, and NIMHANS has been deployed to Kerala. Their mission is to assess the situation and provide support to the state government in managing the Nipah infection.
Simultaneously, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has delivered monoclonal antibodies to Kerala, in response to the state’s request, as a measure to combat the deadly Nipah virus. While this antiviral represents the government’s primary treatment option, its clinical efficacy remains unproven.
Kerala’s Health Minister, Veena George, has confirmed that discussions regarding the stability of the antiviral have taken place with a central expert committee. To bolster testing capabilities, a mobile BSL-3 (Biosafety Level-3) laboratory has been dispatched to the affected district for conducting virus sample tests.
In a proactive move, the Kerala government has decided to obtain body-fluid samples from all individuals identified as “high-risk” contacts associated with the first Nipah victim. Meanwhile, the Rajasthan government has issued an alert to medical officials in response to Nipah cases reported in Kerala, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and precautionary measures.