New Delhi: One case of Nipah virus has been reported in Kozhikode district of Kerala. As reported by ANI, the central government has sent a team from the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) to the state to provide technical assistance.
The patient infected with Nipah virus was a 12-year-old boy. A high alert has been declared after a suspected case of Nipah virus was reported in Kozhikode, Kerala. Kerala Health Minister Venu George confirmed that one patient succumbed at 5 am today (Sunday), announcing that the National Institute of Virology, Pune has confirmed Nipah case in Kozhikode.
The boy was admitted earlier this week and his samples were sent to the laboratory of the National Institute of Virology in Alappuzha. Health Minister Veena George said that the primary contact list of the dead has been prepared and none of them is showing any symptoms but they are being monitored.
“Unfortunately, the boy passed away at 5 am. Last night the condition of the child was critical. We have formed various teams last night and have started tracing. Steps have been taken to isolate those who belonged to the boy. There are primary contacts.”, State Health Minister Veena Geoge confirmed, advising people not to panic, PTI reported.
Some immediate public health measures have been advised by the Center including active case search in households, households, villages and areas with similar topography, especially in Malappuram.
The ministry said the measures include active contact tracing for any contact in the last 12 days, strict quarantining of contacts and isolation of any suspects, and collection and transport of samples for laboratory testing.
After getting information about Nipah infection, the state government also held a high level meeting of health officials late on Saturday night.
On 19 May 2018, Nipah Virus Disease (NIV) outbreak occurred in Kozhikode district of Kerala, India. This was the first NiV outbreak in South India. As of 1 June 2018, there have been 17 deaths and 18 confirmed cases. The two affected districts were Kozhikode and Mallapuram.
The Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts of Kerala in May 2018 was the third of the Nipah virus outbreaks in India, having previously occurred in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007. A total of 23 cases were identified, including index cases with 18 laboratory-confirmed cases. The management of the outbreak was carried out by state government and central government agencies, WHO reports.
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