The risk of infection due to Nipah virus is increasing in Kerala, the fifth infected person has been confirmed here. A 24-year-old health worker working at a private hospital in Kozhikode has tested positive for Nipah virus infection, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said in a statement. According to media reports, the condition of a nine-year-old child here is very critical due to infection and he has been kept on ventilator support.
In view of the increasing cases of Nipah infection in the state, the government on Wednesday ordered the closure of all educational institutions in Kozhikode and other surrounding areas.
According to the report released by the Health Department, about 76 people who came in contact with the infected people have also been examined, their condition remains stable. The team of doctors has said that all people should keep making efforts to prevent this infectious disease. Nearby states have also been advised to exercise caution due to the increasing risks of infection.
Is it as dangerous as Corona? Can Nipah be a major health risk? Let us know about this.
Virus being seen in India, Bangladeshi variant
Health experts said, the Nipah due to which health risks are seen increasing in Kerala is the Bangladeshi variant and it can be a cause of concern in many ways. The research report has alerted people about the nature of these variants. It can be more infectious and deadlier than corona.
The mortality rate among those infected with Nipah can be between 40 to 75 percent, which is a cause for serious concern. Health experts say that all people need to keep making efforts to prevent Nipah infection.
Infectiousness is low but the mortality rate is high
According to the report of Kerala Health Department, the infectivity rate of this variant of Nipah is low but its mortality rate can be quite worrying. The recent unnatural deaths in the state's Kozhikode district were the result of infection caused by the virus, Health Minister George confirmed. According to a Reuters report, one of the people affected by the virus died this month, while the other died on August 30.
The team of doctors said all people should keep taking measures to prevent infection, and seek medical advice immediately as soon as symptoms appear.
How different is Nipah from Corona?
Health experts say the Nipah virus may have more serious risks than Corona. The R0 (R naught) of the Nipah virus was estimated to be 0.43. R0 is a mathematical term that determines the average number of new infections. For an infection to spread in a population, the R0 must be greater than 1 (>1).
The risk of serious disease and death due to Nipah is also high, although due to Corona the situation is now under control and vaccination has significantly reduced the risks of serious disease and death.
Pay serious attention to symptoms
Health experts say that in the case of Nipah infection, initially, the symptoms are similar to normal flu, which can increase the risk of increasing with time and taking a serious form. Infected people may suffer from fever, headache, difficulty in breathing along with cough, sore throat, vomiting and muscle pain.
There is a risk that these symptoms may become severe over time, leading to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), coma in some people, and severe cases, even death.
(PC: Freepik)
