Urgent Alert: Kerala Braces as 175 Exposed in Alarming Nipah Virus Outbreak – Health Minister’s Revelation
Kerala’s health minister Veena George revealed that 175 individuals in Malappuram district have been placed on the contact list in connection with the recent Nipah virus outbreak, reported news agency ANI. Among these contacts, 74 are healthcare workers and 126 are listed as primary contacts, with 104 considered high-risk. Additionally, 49 individuals are categorized as secondary contacts. Currently, ten people on the list are receiving medical treatment at Manjeri Medical College Hospital, and 13 individuals are undergoing testing, with results pending.
This outbreak follows the death of a 24-year-old man on September 9 due to the Nipah virus. Kerala, having faced several Nipah outbreaks since 2018, recorded its first death from the virus in this year on July 21. PTI reported that Nipah virus antibodies were detected in bats across Kozhikode, Wayanad, Idukki, Malappuram, and Ernakulam districts, pointing to fruit bats as the natural hosts capable of transmitting the virus to humans, leading to person-to-person transmission.
This mark’s the year’s second fatality from the virus, which the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies as a priority pathogen due to its epidemic potential. Currently, there are no vaccines or specialized treatments for the Nipah virus.
In response to the outbreak, Health Minister Veena George has designated five wards in Malappuram district as containment zones. As part of the containment measures, all shops in these zones will close by 7 PM, and communal spaces such as cinema halls, schools, colleges, Madrassas, anganwadis, and tuition centers will remain closed. Public directives include avoiding large gatherings and wearing masks. Additionally, restrictions on participant numbers at weddings, funerals, and other events have been announced to curb the virus’s spread.
Original Story https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nipah-virus-outbreak-175-people-in-contact-list-says-kerala-health-minister-101726503487955.html
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