A 24 year old student in Kerala region of India has died due to Nipah Virus (NiV)
More than 200 potential contacts of the student have been traced in Kerala, India, and quarantined by officials to try and stem another deadly outbreak of the bat-borne virus, which can kill less than a week after symptoms begin to show. The young male student, identified by Kerala health authorities, died just five days after developing a fever. By the time his blood sample had been taken to a lab and tested for the illness, he had died.
According to Indian publication The Hindu, certain schools and universities have shut or are enforcing mask-wearing after the resurgence in Nipah cases. The story is the infected student had to travel to four hospitals while seeking treatment.
This follows the death of a 14 year old in July 2024 of the same virus.
Death of Schoolboy from Nipah Virus
On July 21, 2024, a 14-year-old schoolboy from Pandikkad, about 10 km away from Wandoor, Malappuram, passed away due to Nipah virus at Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode.
60 people had close contact with the 14-year-old who died and were considered to be high-risk contacts.
The teenager who died ate local fruit – https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-teen-died-nipah-virus-local-fruit-neighbourhood-bats-thrive-9468552/ . Friends of the boy say he had eaten hog plum fruit, known locally as ambazhanga.
National Institute of Virology and the Indian Council of Medical Research
The National Institute of Virology and the Indian Council of Medical Research, following their investigation into the source of the 2018 outbreak in K… Read more:
The New Indian Express – Express News Service
Article from September 23rd 2024 about checkpoints at Kerala border. “No health worker at Kerala border checkposts, Nipah screening comes to a standstill” –
On Sunday, there was no screening at the check post in Walayar, which is an important transit point. While health officials said police did not cooperate with them, locals said the camp was deserted within a few days.
Following several complaints on lack of screening, TNIE visited the check post around 2.30 pm on Sunday but found no one there. Even though thousands of people in hundreds of vehicles crossed the check post until 3.20 pm, there was no screening.
Locals said this was usual. “Whenever the health department flags an issue, officials set up the check post and screen people. After a few days, they would leave. Whenever officials or media people visit, the team returns and puts up a show of checking. Officials just pose as if they are working hard to prevent the virus from spreading,” said a villager who did not want to be named.Full article here …..
https://www.newindianexpress.com/author/express-news-service