Bangladesh Nipah Variant Found In Kerala Has High Death Rate, Says Minister

A team from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune is scheduled to arrive in Kerala today to set up a mobile laboratory at Kozhikode Medical College. This mobile lab will serve the purpose of testing for Nipah virus and conducting a survey of bats, as announced by the state government during the assembly session on Wednesday.

The decision to set up this mobile lab follows the confirmation of Nipah virus infections in four individuals within Kozhikode district. State Health Minister Veena George, responding to inquiries in the assembly, disclosed that the strain of the virus identified in Kerala is the Bangladesh variant, which is transmitted from human to human and carries a high mortality rate, though it is less contagious.

In addition to the NIV team from Pune, a group of epidemiologists from Chennai is expected to arrive in Kerala today to conduct a survey related to the outbreak. Furthermore, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has agreed to provide monoclonal antibodies required for the treatment of Nipah patients, as informed by the Health Minister.

The Health Minister addressed concerns raised by CPI MLA P Balachandran during the Question-Answer session in the assembly, outlining various measures taken by the Health department to prevent the spread of the Nipah virus. These measures include surveillance, contact tracing, categorization of individuals into low and high-risk groups, establishment of isolation facilities, demarcation of containment zones, and procurement of medicines from ICMR for infected individuals.

Notably, seven village panchayats in Kozhikode district-Atanchery, Maruthonkara, Tiruvallur, Kuttiyadi, Kayakkodi, Villyapalli, and Kavilumpara-have been declared as containment zones due to the Nipah virus outbreak.

Upon the confirmation of Nipah virus infections in Kozhikode district, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged the public to remain calm and follow the guidance of the health department and law enforcement agencies. He emphasized the importance of adherence to restrictions and precautions to prevent further spread of the virus.

The initial death on August 30 was initially attributed to liver cirrhosis comorbidity. However, subsequent cases involving a nine-year-old boy and his 24-year-old brother-in-law, both testing positive for Nipah, have heightened concerns. The nine-year-old boy is currently in intensive care.