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Kerala: Nipah virus claims life of 12-year-old boy in Kozhikode; Centre rushes expert team

The Centre rushed an expert team to Kerala to support the state in public health measures after a case of Nipah virus was detected in the Kozhikode district and to evaluate the situation.

Kerala Nipah virus claims life of 12-year-old boy in Kozhikode; Centre rushes expert team-dnm
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Kozhikode, First Published Sep 5, 2021, 10:37 AM IST

A 12-year-old boy succumbed to Nipah virus infection on Sunday morning after undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kozhikode district of Kerala.

The Centre rushed an expert team to Kerala to support the state in public health measures after a case of Nipah virus was detected in the Kozhikode district and to evaluate the situation.

The samples of the boy, which were sent to the Pune National Institute of Virology, tested the presence of the Nipah virus. The boy died at 5am on Sunday.

The boy, who hailed from Choolur in Chathamangalam panchayat, was admitted to the hospital four days ago with complaints of a high fever.

Reportedly, the Health Department has placed five of the boy's close relatives and 12 others who may have interacted with him under observation.

Kerala Health minister Veena George left for Kozhikode on Sunday morning to take stock of the situation.

Also read: Coronavirus: India reports 42,766 new COVID cases; Kerala contributes 70% of the cases

Confirming the development, in Thrissur Health Minister Veena George said that three samples of body fluid taken from the boy were declared positive for Nipah by the National Virology Institute, Pune, late on September 4 night.

She added that there was no need for panic as no others had so far shown any symptoms.

The state’s worries which are already reeling under an unrelenting spread of the coronavirus outbreak have only doubled with the reporting of the Nipah virus death.

A zoonotic virus, Nipah spreads from animals to humans. The Nipah virus is transmitted from the saliva of flying foxes (fruit bats) to animals and humans. Generally, it affects animals like pigs, dogs, horses, among others. If spread among humans, Nipah virus can be fatal because it causes serious illness which may result in death.

Kozhikode district reported the first Nipah virus disease outbreak in south India on May 19, 2018. The state witnessed 17 deaths and 18 confirmed cases till June 1, 2018.

NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitize, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona 

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