Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said that the Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode district is under control, but the threat of the disease is not over yet. He said that at present the possibility of a second wave of Nipah outbreak cannot be ruled out. “It cannot be said that the threat of Nipah has been completely averted, but it is a matter of relief that the disease has not spread to many people,” the Chief Minister said in the press conference of the review meeting.
He said, “A review meeting was organized regarding Nipah. Health experts are of the opinion that the possibility of a second wave is very less but it cannot be completely ruled out.
Vijayan said that the state’s health system can effectively stop the spread of the deadly virus. He said, “The health system is working cautiously. A dangerous situation was averted due to early detection of the virus.
The Chief Minister said that even the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) could not give a clear answer as to why Nipah cases were being reported from Kozhikode district.
The Chief Minister said samples of 36 bats were sent for testing, but no virus was found and more samples would be collected in the coming days.
He said that with the help of the police, first the ‘route map’ of the infected person was taken and samples of bats would be collected from these places and sent for testing.
Vijayan said that even ICMR does not have a clear answer as to why this disease is reoccurring in Kozhikode. He said that the state has decided to conduct a detailed study in this regard.
Vijayan said the tests will continue to be conducted at the microbiology lab of Kozhikode Medical College and the ‘Institute of Advanced Virology Lab’ in nearby Thonnakkall.
Vijayan said that currently 994 people are under surveillance. He said that samples of 304 people were collected and test results of 267 people have been received. He said that infection was confirmed in six people and nine people were under observation at Kozhikode Medical College.
The Chief Minister said that the Health Department has also formed a psycho-social support team as part of Nipah prevention activities. Earlier in 2018 and 2021, cases of Nipah were reported from Kozhikode district.
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