A state in southern India is swiftly implementing measures to contain an outbreak of the Nipah virus, a rare and often fatal disease, after two individuals succumbed to it. Authorities have taken steps such as closing schools and conducting widespread testing to prevent further spread of the virus.
Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, disclosed that the Nipah virus has been detected in the Kozhikode district of the state. He urged residents to exercise caution and adhere to safety guidelines issued by the health department. This marks the fourth outbreak of Nipah in Kerala since 2018.
“We should not be afraid, but face this situation with caution,” Vijayan stated on social media.
Nipah is a zoonotic virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans. It can also spread through contaminated food or direct human-to-human contact. Symptoms typically begin with a headache and drowsiness, progressing rapidly to a coma within days. The virus can lead to acute respiratory syndrome and fatal encephalitis.
Currently, there is no vaccine for Nipah, and treatment options are limited to supportive care.
In response to the outbreak in Kerala, over 700 people have been identified as close contacts and are undergoing testing for the virus. Among them, 77 individuals are considered “high risk” and have been advised to self-isolate and monitor their health.
Authorities in the Kozhikode district have closed certain schools, and seven villages have been designated as “containment zones.”
Kerala experienced a deadly Nipah outbreak in 2018, resulting in 17 fatalities and widespread panic. Stringent contact-tracing efforts were undertaken at that time to curb the virus’s spread. A nurse who cared for patients in a Kozhikode hospital was among those who tragically lost their lives.
In subsequent years, Kerala faced more Nipah outbreaks, with one occurring in 2021, claiming the life of a 12-year-old boy.
The Nipah virus was first identified during an outbreak in Malaysia in 1998-1999, leading to nearly 300 infections and over 100 deaths. It was named after the village of Kampung Sungai Nipah in Malaysia, where pig farmers contracted the disease. Most infections during this outbreak resulted from contact with sick pigs or their contaminated tissues.
Human-to-human transmission of the virus has been reported, with care providers in Bangladesh being infected while attending to patients. The Nipah virus is classified by the World Health Organization as an epidemic threat necessitating urgent research and development.
This story was originally published on CNN.com: “Indian authorities rush to contain a deadly Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala”.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
