Page 2 - Nipah Virus

Nipah outbreak under control but threat is not over yet, says Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday the Nipah outbreak reported from Kozhikode district is under control but the threat of the infectious disease is not over yet. He said that at present, it is not possible to rule out the chance of a second wave of the Nipah outbreak. "It cannot be said that the threat of Nipah is completely over," the Chief Minister told a press conference here. Vijayan said the state health system could effectively prevent the spread of the deadly virus. "The health system is working cautiously. Early detection of the virus averted a dangerous situation," he said. Narrating the steps taken by the government to check the prevention of the disease, Vijayan said currently 994 people are under surveillance. Samples of 304 people were collected, and of this, the test results of 267 people have been received, he added. He said six people tested positive and nine people are under observation at Kozhikode Medical College. The Chief Minister said e

Nipah in Kerala: Restrictions relaxed in containment zones in Kozhikode

The district collector A Geetha informed that shops and establishments in the above containment zones can operate till 8 pm, while all banks can function till 2 pm as per the Nipah protocol

Nipah situation is totally under control in Kerala: Minister Veena George

The situation regarding the latest Nipah outbreak in Kerala is completely under control, and more than 200 samples from the high-risk contacts were tested negative, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said here on Monday. In an interview with PTI, the minister said so far 1,233 contacts have been traced and categorised into high-risk and low-risk contacts. "A very positive thing is that all four patients under treatment are now stable, and the condition of the nine-year-old boy, who was on ventilator support, is improving clinically. He is now out of ventilator support and is being given minimal oxygen support," George said. A round-the-clock control room and 19 teams on the field have helped in the strict implementation of the protocol, bringing things under control, she said. "So far, we have six positive cases, and all the samples tested for the last three days were negative," the minister said. The Central teams who have been working with the Kerala health department have ...

Nipah virus update: No positive cases since Sept 16, says Kerala govt

The total number of Nipah infections confirmed in the state is six, of which two persons have died, and four persons are being treated

19 teams working in field to trace contacts of Nipah virus patients

Minister Veena George began by highlighting the extensive efforts made to trace and identify individuals who may have come in contact with the infected individuals

World's first Biosafety level 3 lab assisting Nipah testing: Mandaviya

The Health Minister added that the state administration has constituted 19 teams and a core team to evaluate the situation every day

No fresh Nipah positive cases, 42 more negative results: Kerala govt

The Kerala government on Sunday said that there were no fresh Nipah positive cases with test results of 42 samples, of persons in the high risk contact list, coming out negative. The negative results were announced by State Health Minister Veena George while speaking to reporters here this morning. She said test results of more samples are awaited and may be available during the day. Asked how long the vigilance and caution needs to bebe exercised since no new positive cases are being reported, the minister said according to the guidelines and protocols it is 42 days from the last positive case. The incubation period of the virus is 21 days and therefore, "a double incubation period of 42 days from the last positive case" is considered as the period during which caution has to be exercised, George said. Police help will be sought to complete contact tracing as many persons who may have been in the area visited by those infected, deny having been there when called over phone. "So

Amid Nipah outbreak, Kerala govt launches OPD under telemedicine system

In the wake of the Nipah outbreak in this north Kerala district, the state government has launched an OPD service under its e-Sanjeevini telemedicine system. The launch of the special out patient department (OPD) service in connection with Nipah was highlighted by Kozhikode District Collector (DC) A Geetha. In a Facebook post, the DC said the new service would help address doubts related to Nipah and those showing symptoms of infection can seek medical assistance without having to go to a doctor. Geetha said that the e-Sanjeevani Nipah OPD service will be available from 8 am to 5 pm. E-Sanjeevani platform is a system where you can seek treatment from the comfort of your home without visiting the hospital. Apart from the regular OP, the services of specialist doctors are also assured every day, the DC's post said. The Collector, in another post, said that while caution has to be exercised, there was no need to fear bats or attack them. She cited reports of attacks on bats in the

No new positive cases of Nipah, results of 51 samples awaited: Kerala govt

In a relief for the Kerala government, no fresh positive cases of Nipah virus were reported on Saturday in the state even as five more persons, who came into contact with those infected, showing some symptoms of the disease were admitted in isolation at the medical hospital here. Kerala Health Minister Veena George, at a press briefing in the evening, said that in a relief for the state, no fresh positive cases were reported during the day. However, results of 51 samples sent for testing were awaited, she said. The minister also said five more persons, who had come into contact with the infected persons, were admitted in the hospital, after showing symptoms of Nipah infection. "Their samples have also been sent for testing," she said. At present, six cases of Nipah infection have been confirmed in the state. Of the six, two persons have died bringing the number of active cases to 4. The minister said the number of people who were suspected of coming into contact with those infec

Kerala govt working to identify area, patient zero of Nipah virus outbreak

After identifying the man who was the patient zero or index case of the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, the state government on Saturday began looking for the source and place from where he got infected by seeking details of his mobile tower locations. Kerala Health Minister Veena George said while the state government was trying to determine where and how the man got infected, the central team was collecting bat samples to ascertain the viral load. She also claimed that the state's efforts to combat the virus outbreak were appreciated by the central team. The government was also focusing on completing contact tracing in respect of the sixth person who was confirmed, on Friday, to have been infected by the virus, the minister told reporters here. She also said that there were no new positive cases and in a relief for the state, 94 samples -- of persons from the high-risk contact list -- have come back negative for the virus. Meanwhile, 21 people at the Kozhikode medical college an

Nipah: All educational institutes in Kozhikode to remain shut till Sept 24

1080 people in the contact list of infected, said Veena George

Nipah: Kerala HC asks state to issue guidelines for Sabarimala pilgrimage

Kerala High Court on Friday asked the state government to issue guidelines, if required, for the pilgrimage to Sabarimala when it opens for the monthly puja in view of the Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode district. The court asked the Travancore Devaswom Board commissioner to hold discussions with the health secretary and take a decision on the matter. The hilltop shrine in Pathanamthitta district opens for five days every Malayalam month. This month, it will open for pilgrims on Sunday. The state government, meanwhile, informed the court that restrictions have been imposed in the northern Kozhikode district. A fresh case of Nipah virus was confirmed in Kozhikode on Friday, taking the total number of people infected to six. The state has so far reported two fatalities.

India to procure 20 more doses of monoclonal antibody for Nipah treatment

India will procure from Australia 20 more doses of monoclonal antibody for the treatment of Nipah virus infection, ICMR DG Rajeev Bahl said on Friday. "We got some doses of monoclonal antibody from Australia in 2018. Currently the doses are available for only 10 patients," he said. According to him, no one so far has been administered the medicine in India. "Twenty more doses are being procured. But the medicine needs to be given during the early stage of the infection," he said, adding it can only given as compassionate use medicine. Bahl also said mortality among the infected is very high in Nipah (between 40 and 70 per cent) in Nipah compared to the mortality in Covid, which was 2-3 per cent. He asserted that all efforts are on to contain the spread of the virus in Kerala. All patients are contact of an index patient, he said. On why cases keep surfacing in Kerala, Bahl said, "We do not know. In 2018, we found the outbreak in Kerala was related to bats. We are not sure how th

Nipah virus update: Schools, colleges shut in Kozhikode till Sept 17

The Kerala Health Department issued a health alert after two 'unnatural' deaths because of fever were reported at a private hospital in the Kozhikode district amid rising cases of Nipah virus

Nipah virus: One more confirmed case in Kerala; total tally rises to 6

The administration has created containment zones in a 5 km radius of the homes of the two men who died of infection on August 30 and September 11

Kerala confirms one more Nipah virus case; total tally stands at 6

The state government has strengthened measures to prevent the spread of the infection

Raj issues alert for medical officials in wake of Kerala Nipah outbreak

The Rajasthan government on Thursday directed medical officials to remain 'alert' regarding any Nipah outbreak in the wake of cases being reported from Kerala's Kozhikode district. The medical and health services department director has issued an advisory in this regard to the principals of all medical colleges and chief medical and health officers of all districts. The department has also issued an advisory for health workers. The brain-damaging virus has killed two people and infected three others in Kozhikode district. A five-member central team has been stationed in Kerala to take stock of the situation and assist the state government in managing the situation.

Kerala schools to remain closed in Kozhikode till Sept 16 due to Nipah

Meanwhile, the total number of active cases of the infection has gone up to three with the confirmation of one more positive case of Nipah in Kozhikode on Wednesday

Nipah virus: As Kerala reports another case, here's all you need to know

The Kerala government has formed 19 committees to monitor the outbreak of the Nipah virus in the state

Nipah situation not as scary as was in 2018: Kerala's ex-Health Minister

Former Health Minister and senior ruling CPI(M) MLA K K Shailaja says Kerala has nothing to worry about the Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode as the situation is not as scary as it was in 2018. Shailaja, who had won accolades for containing the Nipah infection effectively in 2018, said the southern state has a protocol and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to effectively fight the infection and prevent its spread. She was the Health minister in the previous LDF government, which fought the first Nipah outbreak in the state. "In 2018, it was a new virus to us, and we did not have any experience battling such an infection. Now, we have everything in place to contain it effectively," Shailaja told reporters here. She said Nipah testing facilities have been established in the state but the declaration of virus infection can only be made by the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. "We have the facility. We tried it out during the first bout in 2018 at Kozhikode. But the declaration c