No new Nipah virus cases, lone patient improving: Dr Harsh Vardhan

Health minister Dr harsh Vardhan has said that there have been no new cases of Nipah virus infection and the only confirmed patient is showing good response

There have been no new Nipah cases since the college student in Idukki tested positive. Gokul Krishna Dileep (21) is currently under treatment.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday: “There have been no new cases of Nipah virus disease”. He also stated that the clinical condition of Nipah positive patient is improving further.

As on today, 8 patients are there in the isolation ward and 7 of them were found negative for Nipah virus. The sample from the 8th patient is being tested in the point of Care (POC) lab. Yesterday, four other patients from the isolation were discharged as their clinical condition improved. 

National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune collected three blood samples from pigs and about 30 samples from bats from Thodupuzha (Idukki district).

Nipah virus was first identified in 1999 following an outbreak in Malaysia that led to the deaths of more than 100 people in a pig-farming region. Nipah virus’ principal animal hosts are fruit bats. But the virus sometimes spreads to pigs and other animals, as well as humans. Bat-contaminated date palm sap was the most common source of human outbreaks in Bangladesh. In a recent outbreak in Kerala, India (2018), fruit bats have been implicated.

Nipah virus was first identified in 1999 following an outbreak in Malaysia that led to the deaths of more than 100 people in a pig-farming region. Nipah virus’ principal animal hosts are fruit bats

Nipah infection in humans causes fever and encephalitis, or brain inflammation, often with seizures and coma. Some patients also develop a pneumonia-like respiratory illness. In Bangladesh, where public health surveillance of Nipah virus outbreaks is more extensive than anywhere else, the case fatality rate is about 75 percent.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, according to a statement issued by the Union ministry of health, is personally regularly reviewing and monitoring the Nipah Virus Disease status and has directed the senior officers of the Ministry to review the status with the Kerala state government. The Union Health Ministry is supporting the Kerala state government in management and containment of the situation.     

The following Public Health measures have been instituted by the State Health Authorities:

• A designated Control Room has been established at Office of District Collector (dedicated phone number decided)
• Isolation ward established at Government Medical College Ernakulam.
• Isolation facilities ensured at Medical Colleges at Calicut, Thrissur and Kottayam.
• Prevention of Epidemics and Infectious Diseases cells of these medical colleges to actively participate in management efforts
• All health care facilities to ensure high index of suspicion in cases with similar symptoms and also ensure availability of isolation and emergency management facilities before referral.
• Core group to meet on daily basis to review and monitor the situation.
• Every evening Bulletin about NiVD will be released from Control Room.