Kozhikode: The health department has sounded a high alert on the district as two people died of suspected Nipah virus infection. Pune Virology Institute is expected to release the results of the samples collected from patients by Tuesday noon.
According to reports, a native of Maruthonkara died of suspected Nipah on August 30 and a native of Vadakara also died of similar symptoms on Monday. The health officials confirmed that both people came into contact at a private hospital.
Isolation of victims' families
Five family members of the Kallad native, who passed away on August 30, are currently under isolation. These include the victim's two children aged nine and four years, his wife, brother-in-law and a 10-month-old infant.
Out of the five, three have Nipah related symptoms. The nine-year-old child is in critical condition.
Though doctors have confirmed that the 10-month-old has contracted the common cold, the child is still under isolation. The wife has no symptoms.
Meanwhile, authorities informed that the cremation of the 40-year-old victim from Mangalad, Ayanchery will conducted only after the results from NIV, Pune. His family is also under isolation.
Talking to Manorama News, Doctor Anoop who identified Nipah infection in 2018 revealed that headache and fever are the initial symptoms of Nipah. He added that identifying the patients is a tough task as influenza and pneumonia symptoms are largely found among the infected patients.
Deaths due to Nipah virus infection were reported in Kozhikode district in 2018 and 2021.
The first Nipah virus (NiV) outbreak in south India was reported from Kozhikode on May 19, 2018.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted to people from animals and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person to person.
Among infected people, it causes a range of illnesses, from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis.
The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers, WHO said.