Kerala Nipah Virus: Health Minister Veena George has said that 1,080 people who came in contact with the infected persons have been identified. 130 people were tracked on Friday alone. Among the people who came in contact with the infected, 327 are health workers.
Kozhikode Shuts Schools Amid Nipah
- The Kerala government has announced the closure of all educational institutions in Kozhikode till September 24 in view of the Nipah virus infection. This also includes schools, colleges and tuition centres. The district administration says that online classes will be held for the entire next week.
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- Meanwhile, Health Minister Veena George has said that 1,080 people who came in contact with the infected persons have been identified. 130 people were tracked on Friday alone. Among the people who came in contact with the infected, 327 are health workers.
- Veena George said that apart from Kozhikode, a total of 29 people in other districts have come in contact with Nipah infected persons. Of these, 22 are from Malappuram, one from Wayanad and three each from Kannur and Thrissur.
- He said there are 175 general public and 122 health workers in the high-risk category. The Health Minister said that the number of people who came in contact with the infected is likely to increase, because the test report of the person who died on August 30 has come positive.
State government to issue guidelines for Sabarimala pilgrimage
- The Kerala High Court on Friday told the state government to issue guidelines for Sabarimala pilgrimage once it opens for monthly puja, if necessary in view of the Nipah outbreak.
- The court asked the Travancore Devaswom Board Commissioner to talk to the Health Secretary and take a decision on the matter.
- Let us tell you, the Sabarimala temple located on the top of the hill in Pathanamthitta district opens for five days in every Malayalam month.
- This month it will open for pilgrims on Sundays. The state government told the court that restrictions have been imposed in North Kozhikode district.
Six cases of Nipah Virus so far
Nipah Virus: The cases of Nipah infection in Kerala have increased to six, out of which two people have died so far. On the other hand, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) based in New Delhi has procured monoclonal antibodies for Nipah virus from Australia.
Five years ago in 2018, when Nipah cases were detected, monoclonal antibodies came from Australia, although they were not used as the spread of the infection did not increase.
Nipah, TB and dengue vaccine will be available soon
ICMR Director General Dr. Rajiv Bahl said that the entire team of ICMR is busy developing new vaccines. The trial of dengue vaccine is going to start in hospitals across the country in the next two to three months. There is an idea to search for vaccines for TB and Nipah also.
He said that people often ask why Nipah Virus infection is happening again and again in Kerala? They don’t really have an answer to this. Because this virus reaches humans through bats. Often, when an infected bat eats a fruit in a garden, the virus remains on that fruit for a long time and then it reaches humans.