Kerala boy dies of Nipah virus

New Delhi, September 5

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The Centre on Sunday rushed a team of disease surveillance experts to Kerala after a 12-year-old boy died of Nipah virus infection at a hospital in Kozhikode, the Health Ministry confirmed. The boy was hospitalised with Nipah symptoms (inflammation of the brain and heart muscle) on September 3. He passed away this morning. Two health officials, who were on the contact list of the boy, have reportedly developed virus symptoms. Experts from the National Centre for Disease Control reached the state. Immediate action would involve active case search in the deceased’s family, his village and areas with similar topography (mainly Malappuram where Nipah virus carriers such as bats are abound), tracing of any contacts the deceased might have met in the past 12 days, quarantine and isolation of the suspects and collection of samples.

What is Nipah

Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus, meaning that it can spread between animals and people

How it spreads

It spreads through saliva of fruit bats or other animals. Human to human infection can occur from close contact

How to prevent

Avoid close contact with animals or infected persons; wash hands regularly; wash fruits before consuming

Kerala had reported Nipah disease outbreak in 2018 in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts with around nine documented deaths.

The virus spreads through the saliva of fruit bats. The disease is a matter of concern due to a 70% mortality rate and a strain it might cause to health systems with Covid still surging in Kerala. There is no cure for Nipah. — TNS