The dangerous Nipah virus is spreading in Kozhikode district of Kerala. 6 Dead from Mysterious Nipah Virus in Kerala. 25 people have been confirmed to have a Nipah virus in their blood. All these have been kept under surveillance.
As death toll in Kerala because of Nipah virus rises, there is an serious concern about the infection. This infection has high fatality rate. The virus is mainly spread from pigs, bats and other animals. This is the first time that Nipah virus has been detected in Kerala.
The Government of Kerala has asked the help from the Central Government to deal with this virus. Union Health Minister JP Nadda has ordered the NCDC team to visit Kerala.
Nine people have died in Calicut District after high fever. The Health Department confirmed that two out of nine people were affected by the Nipah virus. Others sample have been sent for tests.
According to WHO, Natural host of the virus is fruit bats of Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus genus. The outbreak of the disease was first reported in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia in 1998. It is a contagious disease; it spreads from one man to another.
“The state has been put on a high alert after we got the confirmation. The central government has also been informed. We have also asked private hospitals to provide all help to patients. Their treatment cost will be borne by the state,’’ KK Shailaja, Minister for Health and Social Welfare told mediapersons in Kozhikode.
Signs and Symptoms:
The infection of Nipah Virus is linked with encephalitis (swelling of the brain). Exposure and after incubation period of 5 to 14 days, this cause fever and headache, followed by drowsiness, deviation and mental delusion.
Prevention and Treatment:
Avoid from coming in the contact of sick pigs and bats in endemic area. Don’t drink the juice of raw dates and palm and don’t consume the fruits fallen on the ground.
Intensive supportive care is the primary treatment of Nipah virus. Ribavirin drug has proven effective against the virus in experiment but it is uncertain in human tests so far. Clean your clothes, utensils and bathroom items like mugs and buckets separately.
So far no vaccine is available for Nipah virus. To avoid this virus, avoid eating fruits, especially dates. Fruit should not be eaten by trees. Should keep distance from sick pigs and bats.
