Nipah virus: Kerala woman’s life threatened

According to health sources, the condition of a 42-year-old woman from Valanchery, Malappuram, Kerala, who tested positive for bat-borne Nipah virus, remains critical. The woman had been displaying symptoms consistent with Nipah, and a swab was sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, which confirmed the infection. The patient is currently receiving intensive care at Perinthalmanna Hospital, while 49 individuals in the woman’s contact list, 12 of whom are close relatives, are under observation. A total of 5 other individuals are currently undergoing isolation. The samples of the aforementioned individuals have been dispatched to the designated reference laboratory for testing, while samples from 6 other individuals who exhibited symptoms have been found to be negative. A fever survey is being conducted in the affected areas to monitor community health. In the event of symptoms such as fever or fatigue, health authorities advise individuals to refrain from self-medication and to seek immediate medical attention. The source of the infection remains unknown. Samples from the cat, which was found deceased in proximity to the woman’s residence, are scheduled to be sent to the Bhopal-based laboratory following the autopsy to detect the presence of Nipah antibody. Health officials have announced that stringent restrictions are to be imposed in designated containment zones to halt the propagation of the infection.