India’s southern state of Kerala is currently grappling with the looming threat of the highly contagious Nipah virus, a virus that first struck the state in 2018. Two recent deaths in the state, initially classified as ‘unnatural,’ have now been linked to Nipah, raising concerns about a potential outbreak.
The Nipah virus made its first appearance in India in May 2018 when an outbreak was reported in the Kozhikode district of Kerala. Within just one month, the state witnessed a total of 17 deaths and 18 confirmed cases linked to the virus. Now, Kerala faces the specter of a new outbreak.
Since the identification of the first Nipah case in the state, five cases have been confirmed. Kerala’s health authorities have diligently compiled a contact list of individuals who came into close contact with the infected patients. Shockingly, this list comprises approximately 700 people, with around 77 of them classified as high-risk, according to Kerala’s Health Minister, Veena George.
The Nipah variant responsible for the current outbreak in Kerala is known as the Bangladesh variant. While this variant is considered less infectious than others, it exhibits a higher mortality rate and can spread rapidly from human to human, raising significant concerns among health officials.
Common symptoms of Nipah infection include fever, headaches, muscle pain (myalgia), vomiting, and a sore throat. As the virus progresses, individuals may experience dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs indicative of acute encephalitis. Severe cases can lead to atypical pneumonia, severe respiratory problems, including acute respiratory distress, and seizures, ultimately progressing to a coma within 24 to 48 hours, as noted by the World Health Organization (WHO).
To curb the spread of the virus, the Kerala state government has imposed restrictions in Kozhikode, including a ban on large gatherings at festivals and functions. Furthermore, 58 wards within the district have been declared containment zones to control the virus’s potential transmission.
Given the absence of a specific drug to treat Nipah infection, adhering to strict hygiene practices remains the primary means of prevention. Caregivers attending to infected individuals should regularly clean their hands, while everyone should thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits before consumption, avoid touching exposed surfaces, and consider wearing masks when in crowded places. These precautionary measures are crucial in the battle against the Nipah virus, which poses a growing threat to Kerala’s population.