As the rare and deadly Nipah virus returns to Kerala, the state government has ordered to shut all schools and other educational institutions in the containment zones and to avoid mass gatherings in Kozhikode district until September 24. The state confirmed its fifth case of the Nipah virus on Wednesday after a 24-year-old healthcare worker's samples tested positive.
Surveillance measures were intensified on Wednesday even as efforts continued to cure a 9 year-old boy suffering from the deadly infection by ordering the only anti-viral treatment available. This is the fourth Nipah outbreak in Kerala since 2018, when the treatment protocols were first issued and later improved upon in 2021 when new cases were detected again.
Nipah outbreak in Kerala
The Kerala government is focussing on long-term surveillance to deal with the Nipah outbreak. "We are focusing on tracing contacts of infected persons early and isolating anyone with symptoms," state Health Minister Veena George told reporters.
None of the 156 health workers who came into contact with the Nipah patients are in the high-risk category, as they had followed the basic infectious disease control protocol, the minister said.
Atanchery, Maruthonkara, Tiruvallur, Kuttiyadi, Kayakkodi, Villyapalli, and Kavilumpara have been declared as containment zones on Tuesday. Four more wards—three in Villyapally and one in Purameri Panchayats in Kozhikode district were added to the list on Wednesday. Volunteer teams have been set up in these zones. The District Collector has also been advised to issue an order restricting mass gatherings in these zones until September 24.
State Health Minister Veena George said that more than 200 persons have been given counselling over the phone. People living in forest areas have been asked to take more precautions, considering that the latest case originated within five kilometres of a jungle area.
A holiday has been declared for all educational institutions in Kozhikode district on Thursday and Friday (September 14 and 15). Anganwadis and Madrassas will also be shut on these two days.
In a press release issued by the state's health department on Tuesday, people in contact with an infected person were advised to wear N95 masks and other protective equipment, which will help avoid germs even if close contact with the patient is required. In the areas where the Nipah virus infections were detected, everyone with symptoms of the disease, such as fever with headache, cough and shortness of breath, have been advised to wear N95 masks.
Testing of samples is being done regularly in the labs at Kozhikode Medical College and Thonnakkal virology lab and samples of those with intense symptoms will be sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.
