In updates regarding the Nipah Virus, results of the close contacts of the 12-year-old victim have been announced. Further, as many as 250 people have been isolated in Kerala, according to state health minister Veena George.
Reportedly, 8 samples of the close contacts of the Nipah virus victim came out negative earlier today. Further, test results of 5 more close contacts are awaited.
Details
Kerala, also known as God’s own country, has been dealing with God’s wrath, it seems. The coastal state full of lush trees and an ocean in its lap has been dealing with COVID-19 virus and now the Nipah Virus.
While other populated states such as Maharashtra, Delhi, and Karnataka are showing a reserved daily active cases surge, Kerala is currently the biggest new cases contributor.
Meanwhile, outbreak of Nipah Virus, is also being monitored closely by the state authorities.
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What Did the New Reports of Close Contacts Say?
On Tuesday, September 7, the National Institute of Virology sent back the reports it drawn out from 8 close contacts of a Nipah virus victim. To the relief of the state, all the 8 reports came out negative. It should be noted that the 8 samples included family members of the victim and medical personnel.
The Health Minister of Kerala, Veena George claimed that the state will be on top of the situation and will contain the virus.
251 People Already Under Isolation and Monitored
Further, the health minister also added that the state health department has isolated 251 close contacts of the victim and are monitoring each of them. As many as 54 people among the 251 contacts are added in high-risk category, and are treated as such.
For the unversed, earlier last Sunday, a 12-year-old boy, who was suspected to have contracted the virus, died and sent a wave of panic across Kerala.
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What Do We Know About Nipah Virus?
Much akin to the COVID-19 virus, which is still continuing to wreak havoc across the world, Nipah is a zoonotic virus. Meaning, the virus is primarily transmitted to humans by animal source. In Nipah virus’ situation, fruit bats are currently seen to have gone the ball rolling.
What makes Nipah Virus So Serious?
What makes Nipah virus a catastrophic virus is the fact that its incubation period is up to 14 days. This means that a person, suffering from the virus, will exhibit symptoms in 14 days, and till then, may spread the virus unknowingly.
Another reason why Nipah is looked as a major viral threat to humans is that there are no vaccines developed for the virus as of yet. Further, the fatality rate of the virus is also alarming. According to the World Health Organization, 75% of infections can prove fatal.
To give perspective to our readers, the COVID-19 virus is believed to be 2% fatal, and even its most fatal variant has a fatality rate of about 5%.
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What is Kerala Doing to Contain the Nipah Virus?
Haivng already dealt with the outbreak of Nipah virus in 2018, the state is taking proactive measures to deal with the containment of virus. Reportedly, 3 small localities in Kozhikhode where the 12-year-old victim lived, are completely quarantined. This includes any type of movement between the 3 localities.
Kerala’s assertive way of dealing with the virus comes from 2018 when it witnessed the first outbreak of Nipah virus.
Back then, as many as 3,000 persons were already isolated by the state authority. People who remained in the list of close contacts to the Nipah struck patients were quarantined and observed.
