Thiruvananthapuram/Bengaluru, September 15: The Nipah virus in Kerala has increased the concern of the government and citizens. Meanwhile, the Kerala Health Minister’s office has confirmed the arrival of another Nipah virus-infected person in a hospital in Kozhikode. His age is 39. Due to the spread of Nipah in Kerala, Karnataka has increased its vigilance.
Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode
Kozhikode district administration has declared holidays in educational institutions and coaching centers until September 16. There has been no change in the examination schedule at the university. The only experimental treatment available for the treatment of Nipah-infected patients, ‘monoclonal antibody’, has been delivered to the state by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Two people have died due to Nipah in Kozhikode, and three others are infected. The condition of the nine-year-old child involved is critical. Six people infected with Nipah have been found in Kozhikode.
Karnataka on high alert over Nipah outbreak in Kerala
The increasing number of Nipah patients in Kerala has increased Karnataka’s concern. The Karnataka government has issued a circular advising citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to the affected areas of Kerala. The Karnataka Health Department has installed barricades in the Kerala border districts of Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Chamarajanagar, and Mysore.
Nipah virus: How it spreads, symptoms, and precautions
The Nipah virus spreads to humans through animals. Its first patient was found in Malaysia in 1999. After this, there was panic due to this virus in Singapore and Bangladesh as well. This virus reaches the human body through bats and pigs. If a bat or pig infected with this virus cuts a fruit and leaves it, and if a human eats it, then he becomes infected with Nipah. If a person dies due to the Nipah virus, then other members of that family can also fall prey to it. Extreme caution has to be taken while performing the last rites of a Nipah-infected person.
