Bangla Hunt/ Pallab Ghosh: After Ebola, Nipah virus spreads it’s wings in India.
After much speculations, doctors in Kerala have confirmed Nipah virus spreading across the state in an alarming speed. The first case of Nipah virus outbreak was reported on May 19, 2018 from Kozhikode in Malappuram district.
The first case was confirmed when a 23-year-old college student’s tests came positive. According to doctors attending the boy said his blood sample were sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, Maharashtra. The experts decided to send his blood samples to NIV as the reports indecated Nipah virus at two virology institutes – Manipal Institute of Virology and Kerala Institute of Virology and Infectious Diseases.
The health department has issued advisory and asked people be on their guards. Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja said, around 86 people have been kept under observation suspected of being affected by Nipah virus. However,
out of the 86 pateints, two are suffering from fever. Another patient has been shifted to the isolation ward set up at the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday said, his ministry is ready to face the virus. However, the minister agreed that more anti-drugs is required an anti-NiV drug developed in Australia would be provided.
Social media savy users havd been requested by the government not to spread panic as that would only make the situation worst.
More Nipah news follows in my next story….
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