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Kerala 13 September: The Nipah virus has tragically claimed the lives of two people in Kerala’s Kozhikode district, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed on Tuesday. Responding quickly, a team of experts from the Central government has been sent to Kerala to assess the situation and assist the state authorities in managing the Nipah virus outbreak.
These unfortunate deaths occurred in Kozhikode on Monday, with Health Minister Mandaviya officially confirming the cause as Nipah virus during a press conference. To further investigate the situation, samples of four more persons in Kerala have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for testing. However, Mandaviya reassured the public, saying there is no immediate cause for concern, as most of the persons who were in close contact with the deceased are receiving medical treatment.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George called a high-level meeting to assess the current situation in Kozhikode, emphasizing that the entire health infrastructure in the district is on high alert. Notably, Kozhikode had reported Nipah virus-related deaths in 2018 and 2021.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans and can also spread through contaminated food or person-to-person contact. Vigilance and prompt response are critical to effectively manage such outbreaks and prevent further spread.
