Nipah: The Fear Over Kerala

Kerala was struck again by the Nipah virus amidst the recovery from the COVID outbreak which locked the state for almost three years. The last Nipah outbreak in Kerala was on 5 September 2021. The earlier outbreaks were in 2018 and 2019. Out of the four outbreaks, three of them were detected in the districts of Kozhikode and one in Ernakulam (2019). And the reasons for the outbreaks remain undiscovered to date. The opposite parties took this as an opportunity to give a blow against the ruling government. 

Why again Kerala?

Nipah is a zoonotic virus capable of spreading from animals to humans. Recently Nipah was detected in Kozhikode resulting in six infected patients.  Out of them, two died and the active cases lessened to four. The experts say that the main reason contributing to the repeated outbreak of the Nipah virus in Kerala is the higher population of bats. This may cause the contamination of fruits and their juices. The intake of fresh juices or fruits infected by bats may lead to an outbreak. Also, the sources say that the experts are aiding in the possibility of Nipah remaining undetected in other states.

Things to be done..!

After the fourth outbreak, the state of Kerala started remedial measures to cease the spreading of the virus by closing the educational institutions for a week. Apart from the locking mechanism, the government looks at the treatment plans. As a part of India called upon Australia to procure monoclonal antibodies for the treatment purpose.

Isolation wards and an ICMR mobile lab are being set up and operated at Kozhikode Medical College. The state government has launched an OPD (outpatient department) service under its e-Sanjeevini telemedicine system.

The government also advises people to stay home to avoid casualties. The lack of a proper vaccination insists people take care of themselves. Hygiene is the key to the prevention of the causative virus.

• Always clean the fruits and vegetables before serving.

• If a fruit with a raw bite caught your attention, just leave it in the bin.

• Avoid bats from your premises and gardens.

• Always wear a mask and wash your hands with an antiseptic at regular intervals.

• Avoid contact with animals, especially the ones with wounds.

• Isolate yourself if you experience any Nipah-like symptoms

Symptoms to be taken care of..!

The major symptom to be noted is pneumonia. If you are struck with a fever, make sure whether it is pneumonia or not. Muscle and joint pain, breathing difficulty, drowsiness, nausea, seizures, etc. are the dominant and visible symptoms of Nipah infection. If you experience one among the others, the best way is to seek medical help rather than self-care.