Kerala: Kerala’s Health Minister, Veena George, convened a high-level meeting on Saturday in the Malappuram district following reports of a suspected ‘Nipah’ virus case in the state.
The meeting focused on actions to prevent the virus’s spread and ensure public safety. Officials reviewed the current situation and the measures already taken to manage the outbreak.
The government has formed committees to supervise the execution of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Nipah virus management. Officials reported that samples from the suspected patient were dispatched to the virology laboratory in Pune.
Last month, Minister George declared an intensification of Nipah prevention initiatives in Kerala, especially from May to September, the peak transmission period. She underscored the need for extreme caution and detailed several preventive strategies. Highlighting the need for children’s education on these measures, she aimed for widespread community awareness and protection.
George urged the public to preserve bat habitats, as their disturbance could heighten the risk of virus transmission. She also warned against consuming fruits bitten by birds or honey from banana peels, which bats could contaminate. She also emphasized the importance of hygiene, advising thorough handwashing with soap and water after contact with bats, their droppings, or bitten objects.
The Nipah virus, which is transmitted from animals to humans, can cause severe illness and death.
This Nipah virus disease outbreak in Kerala during May 2018 marked the third occurrence of the Nipah virus in India, following previous outbreaks in 2001 and 2007 in West Bengal.
