Nipah virus cases in Kerala remain a cause of concern for health experts. So far, the infection has been confirmed in six people in the state, and more than a thousand people who came in close contact with them are being seriously monitored. According to media reports, Kozhikode district of Kerala is the most affected, apart from this, people in about 30 other cities have also been alerted about the risks of infection. However, it is a matter of relief that no new cases have been confirmed in the last two days. On Sunday, samples of 43 other people have been sent for testing.
According to the report released by the Health Ministry, the Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode district appears to be under control at present, with no new positive cases reported in the past few days. The Health Minister said that there is no secondary web of the virus, this is a positive sign. Reports of 11 samples have come out on Saturday, all of which are negative.
According to the ministry, so far 1,192 close contacts of the infected have been detected and are being seriously monitored. Health experts have advised all people to keep taking measures to prevent Nipah.
Six infected so far, two dead
Health Minister Veena George said, six Nipah-infected people have been confirmed in Kerala, out of which two have died, and the remaining four are undergoing treatment. Based on the assessment of the situation, it can be said that there is no possibility of another wave of infection in the state. However, based on genome sequencing of the virus, it can be said that the Bangladeshi strain of the virus, which is currently increasing rapidly in the state, may be a risk, for which special caution and vigilance are required.
It is noteworthy that Kerala has already faced the wave of Nipah in the year 2018.
Concern about Bangladeshi strain
According to media reports, the Bangladeshi strain seen in the state is low in infectivity, but the mortality rate due to it can be between 40-70 percent, which is a cause of great concern for health experts. The state was in the grip of infection in the year 2018, after which the cases have increased once again. In such a situation, the question is, what is the reason for the repeated spread of Nipah infection in Kerala and is there any difference in the symptoms of the infection this time compared to the last time?
Why is the threat of Nipah happening again and again in Kerala?
Health experts say, if we look at the reasons behind the increasing infection in the state, it can be explained in two ways. In the 2018 outbreak, it was discovered that bats were the source of the Nipah virus in the Kozhikode region. Then, the same strain of the virus was isolated from all the cases. This infection can also spread through many other animals and this time the strain seen in the state is Bangladeshi which can cause a higher risk of severe disease and death.
How different are the symptoms of the infected this time from 2018?
If we talk about the previous cases of infection and this time, some differences are being seen in the symptoms. In the case of previous infection, the problem of encephalitis is being seen in severe conditions in most people. In 2018, more people were getting admitted to hospitals with symptoms like fever, after which they were developing various neurological problems. However, this time most people are having respiratory problems which are increasing the risk of developing severe pneumonia over time.
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