A India issued a statement warning about the return of the Nipah virus, which has caused two deaths so far. Since 2018, the country has already faced four outbreaks of the disease and measures are now being taken to prevent new mass contamination.
Authorities decided to close schools and offices, as well as carry out hundreds of tests for the disease in the most worrying regions, such as the state of Kerala, in southern India. In Kozhikode district, seven villages are classified as “containment zone” and people have been advised to avoid gatherings.
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“We should not be afraid but face this situation with caution,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on social media. He advised people to take appropriate safety measures.
Nipah is a zoonotic virus transmitted to humans by animals, mainly bats and pigs. Likewise, it can also be transmitted directly between individuals or through contaminated food.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the main symptoms are headache and drowsiness. However, it can progress to a coma within a few days, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Other worrying symptoms are acute respiratory syndrome and encephalitis (inflammation in the brain).
The Nipah virus in India
In India, the first victim was an inhabitant of the Maruthonkara village and experts are collecting samples from animals in the region to analyze the condition. presence of the virus.
As it is a virus without a vaccine and easily spread, countries that identify outbreaks try to quickly contain its spread. Even so, 700 people are being monitored in India for any contact with the virus. In this control group, 77 people were classified as “high risk” and must be isolated.
In an interview with reporters, Veena George, Kozhikode Health Minister, informed that the entire the movement carried out by the states is a preventive measure, to prevent the virus from causing more victims.
“We are focusing on early contact tracing of infected people and isolating anyone with symptoms,” said Veena George.
(Image: Freepik/Reproduction)
The spread of the Nipah virus
According to the WHO, the Nipah virus was first identified in 1999, in Malaysia, in the village Kampung Sungai Nipah, a place that is also the origin of the disease's name.
The main line of investigation indicates that the virus was contracted by workers who cared for herds of pigs. At that time, 300 people contracted the virus and 100 people died.
In 2018, India experienced its first outbreak that killed 20 people. Then, two people died in 2019. Finally, in 2021, the country recorded two more deaths due to Nipah virus contamination.
Because of this, Indian authorities are quickly adopting safety measures to contain the spread of this virus in the country.