- By Radha Basnet
- Tue, 12 Sep 2023 08:41 AM (IST)
- Source:ANI
Nipah Virus: The Kerala Health Department issued a health alert in Kozhikode district after two "unnatural" deaths were reported due to fever at a private hospital on Monday. The deaths were suspected to be due to Nipah Virus infection. After the two deaths were reported, State Health Minister Veena George held a high-level meeting and reviewed the situation, the health department said in a statement.
The first person died on August 30 while the second death was reported on Monday. "The health department has started surveillance and sent samples to the National Institute of Virology. Another death was also reported and both the deceased persons were in contact," news agency ANI quoted George as saying.
The health minister said that the body of the deceased will be cremated once the results of testing for Nipah virus are obtained, said Minister George. Relatives of one of the deceased have also been admitted to the intensive care unit, she said.
Kerala Minister for Health, Women, and Child Development Veena George held a meeting to address the concerns over Nipah virus. (Image: ANI/File)
"All health systems in the district are on alert. Orders have been issued to isolate the close contacts of the deceased persons. Result will reach by today evening and Nipah virus infection can be confirmed after that only," health officials said.
Nipah Virus In Kerala
In Kozhikode district, fatalities from the Nipah virus infection were reported in 2018 and 2021. The first Nipah virus (NiV) outbreak in south India was reported from Kozhikode on May 19, 2018.
In 2021, when India was struggling to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, the emergence of the Nipah virus in Kerala triggered an alarm among the health authorities. The virus was reported at a time when the southern state was already reporting a spike in Covid-19 cases.
What Is Nipah Virus
The Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from person to person, through contaminated food, or directly from animal to human, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
It can induce a variety of symptoms in those who are infected, including asymptomatic (subclinical) infection, severe respiratory sickness, and deadly encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers, WHO said.
(With Inputs From Agencies)