Kerala to launch anti-Nipah drive in December

Kerala would launch comprehensive preventive meaures against the outbreak of Nipah

Representational image | Onmanorama

Kerala would launch comprehensive preventive meaures against the outbreak of Nipah virus next month to equip the state health machinery to fight the deadly virus, Health Minister K K Shylaja informed the state Assembly on Monday. The health department would conduct mock drills in major hospitals, including private hospitals. Detailing the initiatives under the preventive drive, Shylaja informed the state assembly that surveillance would be intensified.

Nipah virus is generally transmitted from animals to humans, but can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people. The virus causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are the natural host of the Nipah virus.

A year after two north Kerala districts were hit by the deadly Nipah that claimed 17 lives, the virus had re-surfaced in the southern state in June this year with a 23-year-old student being infected .

The Ernakulam-based youth was discharged from the hospital after 53 days of treatment and surveillance.

"This year's Nipah preventive drive will begin next month. We contained the spread of virus in a remarkable manner last time through such coordinated efforts," the minister said during question hour.

According to the WHO, Nipah virus is a newly emerging disease that can be transmitted from its reservoir (natural wildlife host), the flying foxes (fruit bats), to both animals and humans.

(With inputs from PTI)