Covid Had 2-3% Mortality, Nipah Virus Has 40-70%: ICMR Chief Warns

The mortality rate of the Nipah virus is much higher than Covid-19, Dr Rajiv Bahl, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General, said on Friday.

"Mortality among those infected with Nipah virus is very high- between 40 to 70 per cent as compared to that of Covid which was around 2-3 per cent," Bahl said at a press meet as Kozhikode in Kerala reported a fresh case on Friday.

The Director-General of ICMR spoke about the measures taken by the authorities to control the Nipah virus outbreak due to its alarmingly high mortality rate. He further stated that all the individuals who contracted the virus had been in contact with a single index patient or patient zero.

Dr Bahl stated that India has requested an additional 20 doses of monoclonal antibody, which should be given in the early stages of Nipah virus exposure.

"We currently possess monoclonal antibody doses for just 10 patients, and none have received them as of now," he stated.

Bahl added that efficacy trials for monoclonal antibodies have not progressed beyond phase 1 trials, hence they can only be administered as compassionate-use medicine.

Meanwhile, Kerala police filed a case against a 40-year-old man for allegedly posting fake news through social media on the deadly Nipah virus infections in the state.

Police registered a case last night against Koyilandi resident Anil Kumar, a newspaper agent. "He had circulated fake news through social media in connection with Nipah. In the post, he claimed that Nipah was a fake narrative created by pharma companies," a senior police official said.

On the other hand, a 39-year-old man has tested positive for the Nipah virus. A total of six cases have been reported, so far.