Nipah Virus Outbreak: 2 Fatalities Trigger Emergency Response in Kozhikode

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Kerala's Health Minister, Veena George, arrived in Kozhikode, where two individuals have reportedly succumbed to Nipah virus infection ().

The Minister rushed to Kozhikode even as the state Assembly is in session. The National Institute of Virology, Pune, is examining the cause of the deaths and results are awaited.

‘The Nipah Virus outbreak in Kozhikode is a public health crisis characterized by the emergence of the Nipah virus in the region. #nipahvirus #zoonotic’

While addressing reported, George said that Kozhikode is under an alert for the virus and all the protocols are in place and will be enforced when required.

Pending Test Results Raise Concerns Amid Suspicion of Nipah Virus in Recent Deaths

"We are awaiting for the results of five samples to come as initially when a death occurred, it was seen as a natural death due to other causes. But then soon the deceased person's nine-year-old son got fever and another contact also has been admitted with fever. When the history was traced, the authorities had some doubts.

So we are now waiting for the test results to come," she said ahead of chairing a high-level meeting. The present suspected case was reported about 15 km from where the initial Nipah virus outbreak in southern India was first identified in Kozhikode in May 2018 and then again in 2021.

Reference:

1. Nipah Virus Outbreak in Kerala - (https:www.who.int/southeastasia/outbreaks-and-emergencies/health-emergency-information-risk-assessment/surveillance-and-risk-assessment/nipah-virus-outbreak-in-kerala)

Source: IANS