Nipah virus strains prevalent in Kerala find roots in Malaysia and Bangladesh

“ICMR and WHO had conducted studies on the issue and it was found that 9 states in India have the probability of Nipah occurrence and Kerala is one among them. Also after 2018, we conducted surveillance and we found that the source of Nipah infection is bats. The virus we found in Kerala is identified as Indian Genotype or I Genotype which is similar to the strain found in Bangladesh. We have two strains of Nipah Virus one is Malaysian and the other from Bangladesh” she told ANI.

Also Read: Nipah has around 70% mortality rate, Covid had 3%: ICMR

No new cases of Nipah virus were reported in the state, Health Minister Veena George told ANI on Monday. She said that as 61 samples of ‘high risk’ contacts tested negative.

Till now, six cases of the Nipah virus have been so far found in Kerala. Out of them two died, while four other are undergoing treatment.

Also Read: Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala: Covid era-like containment zones back in Kozhikode district

Highlighting key development and strategies used by the Kerala government to deal with the disease, Veena George said that all the strategies were implemented after a review meeting to assess the activities.

“The 19 core committees formed as part of defence activities are functioning well. The central team is also testing saliva samples from bats. Efforts are also underway to add those left out to the contact list,” she said.

George said that the central team which was in the state to examine disaster preparedness will leave on Monday. She also said that the state health department is seeking access of the details of mobile tower locations of the deceased.

“The mobile tower location has been checked with the help of the police to trace the source of the virus in the first patient,” George said. The minister also praised the police, saying, “Activities of the police in the containment zone as part of Nipah prevention activities are exemplary.”

Updated: 18 Sep 2023, 11:05 PM IST