Nipah Virus in Kerala: Health Minister Veena George Says Situation is Under Control
Key Highlights :
The Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala is under control as no new positive case was reported for the second consecutive day and the infected patients are getting better. This was stated by Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Sunday. She informed that the four infected persons, including a nine-year-old boy, were getting better and were taken off the ventilator.
The minister also said that the government was using a monoclonal antibody as the only experimental therapeutic available against the virus. However, the present variant was only 50-60 per cent effective and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has assured that it will get a new and more efficient version. Samples from 36 bats have been sent to Pune’s National Institute of Virology to ascertain the presence of the virus among the mammals.
So far, 1,233 contacts have been traced and of them 352 are in the high-risk category. All the infected persons had contracted the virus from the same person – the index case – who died on August 31. This has made it clear that there was no second wave, which is a welcoming news.
The authorities have completed house visits in 34,167 houses as part of Nipah precaution and 352 people have been put on high-risk contact lists. Health workers have intensified prevention activities in places where Nipah virus has been confirmed.
The Kerala government is taking all necessary steps to ensure that the Nipah virus outbreak is contained and the situation is brought under control. The minister also informed that the improvement in the child's health condition is a positive sign and that the government is hopeful of a complete recovery.
