Nipah virus alert in Kerala after two suspected deaths. Causes, symptoms and treatment
Nipah virus infection to be behind the two “unnatural deaths” reported from a private hospital in Kozhikode. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said that the state government is viewing the two “unnatural deaths” reported from Kozhikode very seriously. The chief minister advised people to exercise caution and said there was no reason to worry as those who were in close contact with the deceased were under treatment.
The first death took place on August 30 and the second death on Monday. The health department workers have been asked to keep a close vigil in their areas. As a precautionary measure, the Health Ministry has also directed for an isolation facility in Kozhikode Medical College. The samples have been sent to Pune Virology Lab.
Earlier in Kerala there was a Nipah virus outbreak in the Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in 2018 and later in 2021, a case of Nipah virus was reported in Kozhikode.
What is Nipah virus?
According to World Health Organization, Nipah virus is usually transmitted from animals to humans though it can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are the natural host of Nipah virus. When a human is infected with the virus, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. According the WHO, the virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.
Currently, there is no treatment or vaccine available for either people or animals. The primary treatment for humans is supportive care.
Nipah virus was first recognized in 1999 during an outbreak among pig farmers in, Malaysia. During the
