Kozhikode: The Nipah fever claimed one more life in Kozhikode district on Saturday, taking the death toll to 13. The deceased has been identified as Kalyani, 62, of Perambra.
The death toll stands at 13, even though it is not confirmed whether its likely first victim -- Mohammed Sabith of Perambra -- died of Nipah fever. The deaths of three other members of his family who died soon after have been confirmed as caused by Nipah virus (NiV). Sabith's blood samples were not sent for analysis.
So far, samples from 21 people suspected of contracting NiV have tested negative.
A multi-disciplinary central team led by the National Centre for Disease Control director is constantly reviewing the situation in Kerala.
The team has fine-tuned the draft guidelines, case definitions, advisory for healthcare workers, information to the general public, advisories for sample collection and transportation accordingly.
The contact-tracing strategy has been successful, the health ministry said, adding that it has been found that all the reported cases - including the suspected cases - had a direct or indirect contact with the first casualty or his family prior to contracting the disease.
The central medical team has put Kozhikode and Malappuram on "high alert" and has advised authorities to set up facilities to screen suspected cases at exit and entry points of the districts.
The local administration in the two districts has set up a taskforce with a designated control room and a nodal officer has been appointed to collect data to ensure preventive measures.
NiV infection is a newly-emerging zoonosis that causes severe disease in animals and humans. The natural host of the virus are fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family, Pteropus genus.
At present, there is no vaccine or drug to treat NiV infection in humans or animals. The primary treatment for human cases is intensive supportive care.
The virus spreads through close contact with people's secretions and excretions. Eating food that may have droplets of saliva and urine of infected bats can lead to transmission of the virus.
Nipah fever was previously reported from West Bengal's Siliguri in 2001 and Nadia district in 2007. A total of 47 deaths were reported from the two districts.
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