The Nipah virus has resurfaced in Kerala, tragically claiming the life of a 24-year-old student from the state’s Malappuram district on September 9th. This marks the sixth time since 2018 that Kerala has been staring at an outbreak of Nipah, coinciding with the vibrant Onam festival, which has now been overshadowed by growing fears of the deadly virus. Health officials have so far traced 175 individuals who had contact with the victim and have ramped up measures to prevent a larger outbreak in the district, reported ANI .
Here’s a detailed look at the latest case and the steps Kerala is taking to prevent the virus from spreading further. According to a report by India Today , the 24-year-old man, who succumbed to Nipah virus, was a student who had returned home from Bengaluru late last month to seek treatment for a leg injury. He visited four hospitals in search of relief before a private hospital flagged his symptoms to the state health department, suspecting Nipah.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), t he initial symptoms that infected humans show are fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting and sore throat. “This can be followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs that indicate acute encephalitis. Some people can also experience atypical pneumonia and severe respiratory problems, including acute respiratory distress,” says the WHO website.
With a fatality rate between 40 per cent and 75 per cent and no known cure, the zoon.