Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala authorities on Wednesday (October 25) cited an ICMR report and mentioned that there was a presence of Nipah virus in bats in the Wayanad district of the state, nevertheless, added that there was no need to panic. State Health Minister Veena George mentioned that the Indian Council of Medical Research shared the data primarily based on its research of the bat samples collected by it. “ICMR has said that it has found the presence of the virus in bats in Wayanad. It is a continuation of the ecosystem there,” George mentioned.
The Kozhikode district of the state, which is adjoining to the Wayanad district, witnessed an outbreak of the Nipah virus earlier this 12 months in which six individuals had been contaminated, out of whom two had died.
The Minister mentioned that there was no need for the folks to be afraid or panic as the data was solely being handed on to the general public to create consciousness and to make folks cautious and vigilant.
Government takes motion
She mentioned that the healthcare actions associated to the virus had been being organised and the medical professionals had been being supplied coaching to cope with the suspected instances of the Nipah infections.
She mentioned the Nipah virus an infection was attainable wherever throughout India, however because it was detected in bats in Wayanad “they informed us and we are strengthening the preventive measures.”
“But there is no need to panic. It is only meant to create awareness,” she mentioned.
George mentioned that every one these individuals who had been on the contact record of the contaminated ones had accomplished their isolation durations.
She additionally mentioned that it was a matter of delight that the state was in a position to prohibit Nipah’s mortality fee, which is round 70-90 per cent, to 33 per cent.
Government’s measures to prohibit the virus
The Minister cited varied measures taken by the state authorities to fight the virus together with issuance of Kozhikode-specific customary working protocols (SOPs), creation of Kerala One Health Centre for Nipah Research.
“Presently, there will be a consolidation of the field activities of all departments with regard to public health and it will be a part of the Kozhikode Medical College,” she mentioned.
Of the 2 deaths due to Nipah, the primary one who died on August 30 was discovered to be the index case, or affected person zero, from whom others caught the an infection. The outbreak of the virus this 12 months was the fourth in the state since 2018.
(With PTI inputs)
