Sir — After the DENV, H1N1, CHIKV, Zika and the Ebola virus scares, it is now the turn of Nipah virus that has the medical fraternity in Kerala scurrying for cures to contain its deadly effects. With no known vaccine available, primary treatment is restricted to intensive supportive care. The Nipah virus is the latest in a series of deadly outbreaks that has exposed mankind’s susceptibility to unknown strains of infective agents which have defied medical evaluation and treatment to pose potential life-snatching threats for humans.
For that matter, each virus outbreak, whenever it has occurred, has been testing times for the public with the severity of the epidemic recounting untold misery for one and all. Yet we do not learn from past mistakes. No sooner is the acuteness of the contagion on the ebb, caution is thrown with people showing fondness for returning to their old lifestyles.
The Nipah virus is not new to the country. An earlier outbreak was reported in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007. It has now re-surfaced in Kerala. We now have to accept the fact that man’s relentless war with viruses has reached a stage where living with outbreaks is a part of life. Only a cautious approach will help us fend off the outbreak!