Nipah in Kerala: 5 Cases, 700 Contacts, 77 High-Risk individuals Found

Kerala's Nipah outbreak

The state now has five positive cases after a 24-year-old healthcare provider who had close contact with a Nipah patient tested positive on Wednesday. The contact list of the patients has been a source of concern as the state government has imposed containment zones and limits to stop the spread of the virus, and 700 people have come into contact with the patients. According to Kerala’s health minister, Veena George, roughly 77 of these 700 people fall within the high-risk category.

The most recent updates on Kerala’s Nipah outbreak are given below

1. It has been requested that the high-risk Nipah patients stay in their homes. The two Nipah sufferers’ journeys have been made public so that others won’t follow them.

2. In Kozhikode, rules have been established prohibiting huge crowds from congregating during events like festivals.

3. In Vadakara taluk of Kozhikode district, 58 wards spread over nine panchayats have been designated as containment zones. Only access and departure are permitted in these locations, along with essential services. Shops that offer necessities will be able to open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For pharmacies and health centers, there is no time limit specified.

4. Buses and other vehicles shouldn’t stop in the impacted regions when traveling on national highways through containment zones.

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In Kozhikode, a nine-year-old boy has the virus, and the government has requested a monoclonal antibody from ICMR to treat him. Although there is no clinical evidence that it can treat Nipah, this is the only option. The boy is supported by a ventilator.

5. About 700 people, including 76 high-risk individuals, came into contact with the patients. They are all stable, according to the ministry.

6. Despite the fact that the epidemic this time was limited to Kozhikode, Minister Veena George claimed that studies by the WHO and ICMR indicate that similar diseases can spread throughout Kerala.

Kavya Bhatt