Kerala Nipah Alert: Health Minister Calls High-Level Meeting

Veena George, the health minister for Kerala, has called a high-level conference for today in reaction to two recent “unexplained deaths” in the Kozhikode region that have been linked to fever. Health authorities believe that the Nipah virus may be to blame for these deaths.

According to the Health Department, the terrible occurrences took place in a private hospital in Kozhikode, and one of the dead people’s relatives is presently receiving urgent care there. Following a review meeting presided over by State Health Minister Veena George, the state health administration has issued a warning for the area in light of these events.

A instance of “unexplained death” was recorded in Kozhikode on Monday morning, according to Minister George, and the deceased’s close relatives were also taken to the hospital. Minister George told reporters in Kozhikode that the deceased’s corpse had been deposited in the morgue and that cremation would begin once the findings were known.

“The National Institute of Virology has received samples from the health department’s monitoring program. Both of the dead people had communication with one another, according to another death that was recorded, George said.

The first death happened on August 30th, and the second one happened on August 31st. Health authorities have ordered the isolation of close contacts of the dead people and have put all healthcare facilities in the area on high alert. Only after receiving the test results, which are anticipated to be obtained by this evening, will Nipah virus infection be definitively confirmed.

Local health professionals have been ordered by the health minister to keep a watchful eye on things in their specific regions. We will act in line with the state’s Nipah procedures if the findings are favorable. A full evaluation would be carried out, the health minister stressed.

The Health Ministry has also mandated the creation of an isolation unit at Kozhikode Medical College as a preventative step. “Samples from the two deceased individuals and three others who are currently receiving treatment have been sent to Pune for testing,” said the State Health Minister.

It’s important to note that a Nipah epidemic occurred in the Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in 2018 and that Kozhikode reported a Nipah case in 2021. The Nipah Virus is spread by fruit bats and has the potential to be lethal to both people and animals, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is known to produce fever, muscular soreness, headache, disorientation, and nausea in addition to respiratory symptoms.