Health department asks district administration to strengthen surveillance and preventive measures
Health department asks district administration to strengthen surveillance and preventive measures
The health department has issued an alert to all districts to be alert for Nipah-like diseases and to strengthen disease surveillance and surveillance as the breeding season for bats has just begun.
Kerala has experienced three Nipah outbreaks so far, first in Kozhikode in 2018, a lone case in Ernakulam again in 2019 and then a lone case in Kozhikode in 2021.
watch for symptoms
A press release issued by the health department said hospitals, especially the emergency/casualty wing, should be alert to patients coming in with Nipah-like symptoms, including fever, altered mental status, severe weakness, headache, respiratory distress. Includes cough. Vomiting, muscle pain, cramps and diarrhea.
Monitoring of bats will be strengthened in all districts and public will be alerted to avoid Nipah. Forest, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry departments will be involved in all surveillance and preventive measures.
Kerala’s first attempt with Nipah took place in Kozhikode in May-June 2018 and was the first recorded NiV outbreak in South India. A total of 23 cases were identified, although only 18 were confirmed in the laboratory. Of the 23 cases, only two survived the infection. The strong public health response helped contain the infection rapidly.
In 2019, the lone case found in Ernakulam also turned out to be an index case and the person survived. However, when Nipah reappeared in Kozhikode in 2021, although the outbreak was confined to one case and one district, the 12-year-old boy could not be saved.
While the presence of Nipah IgG antibodies was detected in bat samples collected from Nipah outbreak sites, the source or route of infection could not be traced in any of the outbreaks.
The high mortality rate of Nipah is a matter of concern.
Be on alert people and take care not to disturb the bat colonies. Fruits found on the ground and those with bite marks should not be eaten by humans.
Awareness Campaign
As part of Nipah prevention and awareness, the health department will organize a Nipah workshop on May 12 in Kozhikode, focusing on the state’s experience and learnings from past Nipah outbreaks. Health Minister Veena George will inaugurate the workshop.
Representatives from ICMR, NCDC, NIV Pune and expert doctors of community medicine, microbiology and medicine from medical colleges and officials from forest, animal husbandry departments will participate in the workshop.