Two Nipah virus deaths confirmed in Kozhikode

Two Nipah virus deaths confirmed in Kozhikode

Health;

News:

1. The Health Department of Kozhikode district has confirmed Nipah virus (NiV) infection for the first time in the State.

Important facts:

2. The National Virology Institute, Pune has confirmed the Presence of the zoonotic virus in the blood sample of died person.
3. Nipah virus (NiV) infection cause severe disease in both animals and humans.
4. The virus is transmitted through Fruit bat which is natural reservoir of Nipah virus.
5. Symptoms of Nipah Virus include:

• Fever and muscle pain.
• Inflammation of the brain which further lead to coma.
• Infection can lead to acute respiratory syndrome and fatal encephalitis among humans.
• The virus is capable of causing diseases in domestic animals also.

6. There is no vaccine for the disease and the only form of treatment is supportive medicines.
7. To control the spread of virus the district administration has constituted a task force to monitor the situation and directed to set up special wards in private and government hospitals.
8. Union Health Ministry has directed the Director of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to visit Kozhikode to assist the State government regarding the Nipah virus.