Nipah: 425 on contact list, fever surveillance to be held
National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, confirmed that death of 18-year-old girl from Chettiyarangadi, in Malappuram, on July 1 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kozhikode was due to Nipah infection.
A 38-year-old woman from Thachanattukara, in Palakkad, who also tested positive, is battling for life at Moulana Hospital, Perinthalmanna.
Meanwhile, the central surveillance unit of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is in close contact with the state unit and is actively monitoring the situation after two Nipah virus cases were detected by Kerala IDSP.
According to official sources, the deployment of a national joint outbreak response team is being considered.
In Malappuram, there are 228 people, 110 in Palakkad and 87 people in Kozhikode on the contact list. Twelve persons are under treatment in Malappuram, with five in the ICU. One person on the contact list tested negative. In Palakkad, one person is under isolation treatment.
There are 61 healthcare workers on the contact list in Palakkad.
In Kozhikode district, all 87 people on the contact list are healthcare workers. Instructions have been given to conduct fever surveillance in the area, said George. Those on the contact list in Palakkad should be isolated there, she said.
"Mental support should be ensured. Ambulances, including Kaniv 108, are on standby. Instructions have been given to intensify efforts to identify the source," said a statement issued after a high-level review meeting held on Saturday.
No new person with symptoms in Malappuram
Meanwhile, Malappuram district health administration intensified the surveillance programme in various parts of four panchayats. A special team conducted inspections in 20 wards of Makkaraparamba, Kuruva, Koottilangadi and Mankada panchayats.
According to health authorities, more than 60 special health squads visited 1,655 houses in these panchayats on Saturday. No individuals with symptoms were identified in the survey conducted in these regions. With the confirmation of Nipah virus presence, four panchayats have already been declared as containment zones. Restrictions are in place in various wards of these panchayats. Authorities informed that in the containment zones, public gatherings should be avoided, wearing masks in public places is mandatory, gatherings should be minimised, commercial establishments are allowed to operate only from 8am to 6pm and educational institutions should remain closed.
Awareness campaigns were conducted about Nipah prevention methods.
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The nature of the infection has evolved, as the later cases in Bangladesh and India reported being sick after consuming fruits or raw date palm sap that had unknowingly been contaminated by bats' saliva or urine. Although the infection is currently limited to a small but deadly belt, the urgent call for preparedness in other countries is important. The World Health Organization highlighted how the virus passed from person to person in these outbreaks, especially in close-contact situations. In Siliguri, India, in 2001, the virus even made its way through hospitals, and about 75% of the cases were either hospital workers or visitors. People trying to help others ended up getting sick themselves. Between 2001 and 2008, in Bangladesh, nearly half the cases came from people who had cared for loved ones who were infected. What is the Nipah virus? As per the Cleveland Clinic, Nipah virus (NiV) is a virus that spreads between animals and people (a zoonotic virus). As mentioned earlier, it spreads through fruit bats but can also pass through pigs and other animals like goats, horses, dogs, or cats. The virus spreads when: People or animals come in close contact with the blood, poop, pee, or saliva of an infected animal Eat food that has been contaminated by an infected animal Come in close contact with a person who has the Nipah virus According to the WHO, Nipah is a virus that has the potential to cause a pandemic as it can not only transmit between animals and humans, but also because it has a fatality rate as high as 75 per cent. Even patients who survive the virus are left with long-term neurological conditions. What are the symptoms of the Nipah virus? People infected with Nipah virus usually start off with symptoms like fever, headaches, muscle pain (myalgia), vomiting, and a sore throat. As the illness progresses, some may experience dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and other neurological signs pointing to acute encephalitis—a serious brain infection. In some cases, the infection can also cause breathing issues, such as atypical pneumonia or even acute respiratory distress. In the most severe cases, encephalitis can lead to seizures and rapidly progress to coma, sometimes within just 24 to 48 hours. The virus is particularly dangerous as it might take a while for the symptoms to show after a person has been in contact with the virus. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), it takes about four to fourteen days for people to show symptoms of a Nipah infection. In rarer circumstances, it can take up to 45 days. While most people who survive acute encephalitis make a full recovery, about 20% of patients are left with residual neurological consequences such as seizure disorder and personality changes. 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Cases around the world As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), Nipah outbreaks have only been reported from Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. The recent death of the teenage girl has been reported from India. As per a 2024 paper, a total of 754 human NiV cases and 435 deaths (58% fatality rate) have been reported globally, with Bangladesh accounting for the highest number, 341 cases and 241 deaths (71% fatality rate), followed by Malaysia- 283 cases and 109 deaths (Fatality rate: 39%), India- 102 cases and 74 deaths (Fatality rate: 73%), the Philippines- 17 cases and 9 deaths(Fatality rate: 53%), and Singapore 11 cases and 1 death(Fatality rate: 9%).
