Nipah virus, a mysterious virus, an Indian southern state taking measures to contain an outbreak after two people died from the virus. Shutting schools in many southern states and testing people to prevent its spread.
This virus has been ascertained in the state’s Kozhikode district, confirmed by Kerala’s chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Convincing people to exercise caution and follow health department safety guidelines.
On social media, he said “ We should not be terrified, but face this situation with caution. Two people have died from this virus and this is the fourth outbreak in the state since 2018.
What is Nipah virus?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus that is disseminated from animals to humans. This virus is also transferred through sludge food or face-to-face communication or directly between people.
The US Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (CDS) report that virus infection can cause geniuses to several diseases. The symptoms of this virus start from headache and tiredness but quickly convert into a coma within a matter of days, according to the CDC.
Nipah virus can also cause acute respiratory syndrome, where the lungs cannot deliver enough oxygen to the body, and fatal encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain.
On Wednesday, state’s health minister Veena George told the media that a minimum of 700 people have been recognized as close contact and are referring to being tested for the virus. 77 people are considered high risk of those. Asked them to reside at residence and obey all health guidelines.
On Wednesday, the district collector said in a statement that, In district Kozhikode, authorities closed some schools. Meanwhile, seven towns have been announced as “containment zones”.
Multiple outbreaks in Kerala
In 2018, Kerala encountered a dangerous outbreak of the Nipah virus, killing at least 17 people and compelling ubiquitous panic in the state. During the time of authorities’ research on a firm contact-tracing procedure, a minimum of 230 people were tested to contain its spread. In Kozhikode Hospital, along with patients, a nurse who was treating patients died from this virus.
Kerala faced another outbreak of Nipah virus in the year 2021, a man was diagnosed with the virus, and after this around 300 people were under surveillance. A 12-year-old boy died in this pandemic.
During 1998-1999, Nipah virus was first discovered in Malaysia. According to the CDS, at least 300 people were infected and more than 100 died in Malaysia. Millions of pigs were euthanized to stop this disease.
First, it is identified in a Malaysian village, Sungai Nipah virus, so it is pronounced as Nipah. In Sungai, pig farmers prevented the disease.
According to the WHO, people who have direct contact with sick pigs or their polluted tissues, are infected with this disease. There have been consequent outbreaks in India and Bangladesh, adding a minimum of 600 human cases between 1998 and 2015.
According to the WHO, between 2001 and 2008, a minimum of half cases were reported in Bangladesh, The cause of disease growth is human-to-human transmission resulting from workers delivering care to infected patients. Human-to-human transfer of the Nipah virus has also been reported.
