As Nipah virus keep surfacing from Kerala, Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) DG Rajeev Bahl warned that the pathogen should not be taken lightly given that the mortality rate among those infected with the deadly virus is much higher compared to that of Covid-19 pandemic.
So far till Friday, a total of six people have tested positive for the deadly Nipah virus in the Southern State, out of which two have succumbed to the infection.
“While Covid had a mortality rate of two to three per cent, Nipah has a death rate of 40 to 70 per cent,” Bahl rang an alarm bell, even as a Central health team is in Kerala to assist the Health Department of the State Government.
Asserting that they are making all efforts to contain the spread of the deadly virus in the southern state, the ICMR DG said, “We do not know why the cases keep surfacing. In 2018, we found the outbreak in Kerala was related to bats.
“We are not sure how the infection passed from bats to humans.
The link could not be established. Again we are trying to find out this time. It always happens in the rainy season.”
According to the ICMR DG, India will be procuring 20 more doses of monoclonal antibody from Australia for the treatment of Nipah virus infection.
“We got some doses of monoclonal antibody from Australia in 2018. Currently, the doses are available for only 10 patients,” he said.
“…20 more doses are being procured. However, the medicine needs to be given during the early stage of the infection. Only phase 1 trials to establish the safety of the medicine have been done outside. Efficacy trials have not been done. It can only be given as compassionate use medicine,” Bahl said.
While globally the antibody has been successfully given to 14 patients, no one in India has been administered with the doses so far.
In view of this, restrictions have been tightened in the Kozhikode district in Kerala with the administration shutting all educational institutions, parks, and beaches. Prayer gatherings at religious institutions and other public programs have also been banned.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, 11 samples of suspected cases and their contacts returned as ‘negative’ from the National Institute of Virology in Pune. Subsequently, 15 other samples were collected and sent for testing.
Taking no chance, neighbouring Karnataka has already issued guidelines advising the people to avoid unnecessary travel to the affected area in Kerala. The Karnataka Government has also intensified fever surveillance in the bordering districts.