Nipah Virus: Kerala Health Minister Announces Precautionary Measures; Check Symptoms, Treatment

Malappuram: Following the detection of Nipah Virus in a 14-year-old boy in Kerala's Malappuram, the State Health Minister Veena George convened a high-level meeting and discussed how the government would deal with the possible outbreak of Nipah Virus.

The Kerala Health Minister later announced government's action plan, the precautionary measures to be followed by the citizens and the symptoms and treatment of the Nipah Virus…

Govt's Action Plan to Tackle Outbreak of Nipah Virus

The Health Minister of Kerala, Veena George has confirmed cases of Nipah Virus in Malappuram and has also said that the state is completely prepared to take on the virus.

• The government has begun taking preventative measures.
• A total of 25 committees have been formed on the basis of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) as part of government's order regarding Nipah control.
• Contact tracing has also begun.
• A 24-hour NIPA control room has also been opened.

Nipah Virus: 214 People on Primary Contact List

According to the Health Minister a total of 214 people are on the primary contact list and out of them, 60 are in high-risk.

Veena George said, “There are 214 people in the primary contact list. 60 people who were closely involved in this are in the high risk category. 30 isolation rooms have been arranged in Manjeri Medical College."

She further added, "Apart from this, necessary isolation wards have also been arranged in Kozhikode Medical College. Route map will be published.”

Precautionary Measures for Citizens Amid Rising Cases

• The Health Minister asserted that everyone in the district must wear a mask when they go out in public places. 
• Unnecessary hospital visits must be avoided at all cost.
• Those who are on the contact list should be isolated; maintaining distance is mandatory to stop spread of the infection. 
• Even if only one person in a household is on the contact list, do not come in contact with others. 
• Lastly, the citizens have been advised to remain calm and not be afraid at all.

Nipah Virus: Symptoms, Treatment

Speaking of the primary symptoms of the Nipah Virus, fever is one and it can be accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms - 

• Headache
• Fits cough
• Breathing problem
• People with respiratory symptoms are at a greater risk and are more likely to spread it to others.

The first step of the treatment of this illness is isolation to prevent the spread of the infection. According to the State Health Minister, the symptoms may increase with time and the risk of spreading the disease may increase as the severity of the disease increases.

(Inputs from ANI)