Proactive detection, containment zones, & more: What Kerala is doing to control spread of Nipah virus

Cases of the Nipah virus have been found in Kerala once again. The Health Ministry has confirmed two people have died from the brain-damaging viral disease in Kozhikode district, while four more cases are recorded in the district. The Kerala government has jumped into action determined to stop the virus’ spread. It has prepared a preventative strategy by declaring containment zones, issuing high alert and constantly monitoring the clinical symptoms. Notably, the southern state’s previous fights against the virus, which is known for high fatality rates, had earned international acclaim, according to NDTV. Also read: Nipah virus kills two in Kerala: Why does disease plague state? High alert for three districts Following the recent deaths of two people in Kozhikode from Nipah infection, the Kerala Health Department has issued an alert for the districts of Kannur, Wayanad, and Malappuram, as per India.com. The department has also established 16 core teams to keep an eye on the containment and surveillance measures being implemented in these locations. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been called by the department of health, Health Minister Veena George informed ANI. The department has guaranteed the ICMR that monoclonal antibodies are available for the treatment of Nipah patients admitted to a private hospital. According to NDTV, she also said that the state aims for “proactive detection” of infections before cases are verified in labs. [caption id=“attachment_13115952” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The Nipah virus has repeatedly resurfaced in Kerala since 2018. Representational image.[/caption] In order to issue warnings in advance, the health administration is also keeping an eye on clinical symptoms. It is putting a lot of effort into finding contacts of infected people early on and isolating those with symptoms. In the district, a Nipah control room has been established, and its phone numbers are – 0495 2383100, 0495 2383101, 0495 2384100, 0495 2384101, and 0495 2386100. George also went to Kozhikode Medical College to inspect the facilities and also made sure that N95 masks, PPE kits for patient care, and other safety supplies were accessible to the medical team. There is a sufficient supply of workers and medications in the hospitals. Also read: Kerala: Nipah alert sounded in Kozhikode after 2 'unnatural' deaths Containment zones declared The health minister stated that seven village panchayats in the Kozhikode district – Atanchery, Maruthonkara, Tiruvallur, Kuttiyadi, Kayakkodi, Villyapalli, and Kavilumpara – have been designated as containment zones in response to a question in the Assembly today. According to the Times of India, until further notice, there is no access to or from these exclusion zones. Only businesses selling essential goods can operate from 7 am to 5 pm, while pharmacies and health centres can operate at any time. Education Minister V Sivankutty has also instructed schools to use online tests as a precaution against child infection. Banks, other government or quasi-government organisations, educational institutions, and anganwadis, in contrast, should not operate, according to District Collector A Geetha, while local self-government organisations and village offices can operate with minimal staff. Additionally, residents are urged to keep their social distance, wear masks, and use hand sanitiser inside the containment zone. Buses or vehicles plying on national highways through containment zones are advised not to stop in the affected areas, as per PTI. Today, teams from the National Institute of Virology would also reach the southern state to carry out a survey. Additionally travelling to Kerala is a group of epidemiologists from Chennai, reported NDTV. According to George, the virus strain in Kerala is the Bangladeshi form, which transmits from person to person and has a high fatality rate. This variety is less contagious, she added. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asked people not to panic and to take precautions instead. “Everyone should strictly follow the instructions of the health department and the police and fully cooperate with the restrictions,” he has said. About Nipah virus The Nipah virus (NiV), according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is a zoonotic infection that can spread from animals to people. It’s primary host is the Pteropodidae family of fruit bats, also known as flying foxes. The infection can result in complications ranging from respiratory problems to deadly encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain. According to the Union Health Ministry, two persons have already died of the virus, one on 30 August and the other on Monday. The Nipah virus is present in the bat population in nine states and one union territory across the nation, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) survey. In addition to Kerala, these bats were found to have antibodies to the Nipah virus in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, and Pondicherry. Also read: Why does Kerala government want to change the state’s name? Symptoms & treatment Fever, headache, cough, difficulty breathing, and vomiting are a few of the symptoms. Patients may have seizures, become disoriented, and even go into a coma as the infection worsens. Acute encephalitis may also be indicated by symptoms like vertigo, sleepiness, altered consciousness, and neurological problems. Additionally, some persons may have acute respiratory distress and serious respiratory issues such as atypical pneumonia. The virus is assumed to incubate for four to fourteen days, but it has been known to take up to forty-five days in some cases. Nipah cannot currently be treated with medications or vaccinations. To treat severe respiratory and neurological problems, the WHO has advised “intensive supportive care.” The virus has been designated by the organisation as a priority disease for the WHO Research and Development Blueprint. Its transmission The zoonotic virus can spread from animals to humans and then among humans. Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are hosts for Nipah virus. It was initially found in 1999 in Malaysia during an outbreak among pig breeders. This occurred after fruit tainted by bats was consumed by pigs on a farm. The farm transported mature pigs for slaughter and sold piglets to other farms while remaining unconcerned at first. Soon, some of the farm employees and the animal-transporting drivers developed illnesses. Workers in the slaughterhouse fell sick. [caption id=“attachment_13115722” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] the Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic infection – that is transmitted from animals to humans. News18[/caption] After examining the spinal fluid of a victim from Kampung Sungai Nipah, scientists were able to identify the virus. The infectious agent was found and later given the name Nipah after the locality by Malaysian virologist Kaw Bing Chua. After a short while, the outbreak that had over 300 cases and more than 100 fatalities was put an end to by the Malaysian government ordering the slaughter of a million pigs. Food contamination is the main reason for the virus transmission. According to the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), transmission can happen due to “consumption of raw date palm sap or fruit that has been contaminated with saliva or urine from infected bats. Some cases of NiV [Nipah] infection have also been reported among people who climb trees where bats often roost.” The fruit bat, often known as the flying fox, is the known animal host reservoir for this virus. It has been shown that fruit bats can spread this virus to pigs, dogs, cats, goats, horses, and sheep. Humans contract the disease primarily through close contact with these animals or by eating food tainted with their saliva or urine. The possibility of human-to-human transfer is also thought to exist. As per the CDC, the human-to-human spread of NIV is often reported in India and Bangladesh. Since 2001, Bangladesh has experienced at least 10 outbreaks. India’s West Bengal saw outbreaks in 2001 and 2007, while Kerala reported a number of cases in 2018 as well as isolated cases in 2019 and 2021. With inputs from agencies