One more case of Nipah infection has been confirmed in Kerala’s Kozhikode district. State health minister Veena George’s office said that a 39-year-old man has been confirmed with the Nipah virus after his samples turned positive.
He was under observation in a hospital. He had sought treatment at a private hospital where Nipah-positive affected were treated for other ailments earlier, it said in a statement on Friday. With this, the total number of Nipah cases has gone up to six in Kozhikode.
Nipah Virus Top Points
• The ICMR has delivered the antibody requested by Kerala to combat the deadly virus. A mobile laboratory was also sent to ground zero to enable the state to test samples.
• The ICMR’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune sent its mobile BSL-3 (Biosafety Level-3) laboratory to Kozhikode to test samples for the virus in the district itself after five cases, including two deaths, were recorded.
• A five-member central team comprising experts from the National Centre for Disease Control, RML Hospital and NIMHANS has been stationed in Kerala to take stock of the situation and assist the state government in the management of the Nipah infection.
• Apparently, samples will also be collected from bats to check for the virus’ presence.
• Additionally, a fully-equipped mobile virology testing laboratory of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) was dispatched to the northern Kerala district to strengthen virus testing and detection.
• The district administration has already declared a holiday for educational institutions in Kozhikode on Saturday (September 16), in addition to Thursday and Friday.
• George said the state has been vigilant and Kozhikode’s neighbouring districts — Kannur, Wayanad and Malappuram — should also be cautious.
• Around 11 wards in Kozhikode district were declared as containment zones till Wednesday evening.
• The Rajasthan government on Thursday directed medical officials to remain “alert" regarding any Nipah outbreak in the wake of cases being reported from Kerala’s Kozhikode district.
• The medical and health services department director has issued an advisory in this regard to the principals of all medical colleges and chief medical and health officers of all districts. The department has also issued an advisory for health workers.
(With inputs from PTI)