Nadda reviews Nipah Virus cases in Kerala

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, J P Nadda is closely monitoring the situation in the wake of reported cases and deaths due to Nipah Virus in Kerala. He has reviewed it with Secretary (HFW) Ms Preeti Sudan and DG (ICMR) Dr Balram Bhargava and has directed for extending all support to Kerala in its prevention and management. Following directions of the Union Health Minister, a multi-disciplinary Central team from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is already in Kerala constantly reviewing the situation.

The Central team comprises Dr Sujeet K Sing, Director, NCDC, Dr S K Jain, Head Epidemiology, NCDC, Dr P Ravindran, Director, Emergency Medical Relief (EMR), Dr Naveen Gupta, Head Zoonosis, NCDC, Dr Ashutosh Biswas, Prof Internal Medicine, AIIMS, Dr Deepak Bhattacharya, Pulmonologist, Safdarjung Hospital, along with two clinicians and one expert from Ministry of Animal Husbandry.

The NCDC team visited the house at Perambra from where the initial death was reported.  The team found many bats housed in the well from where the family was drawing water.  Some bats have been caught and have been sent for lab examination to confirm whether they are the cause of the disease or not. Sixty different samples have been collected from the spot and sent for examination. There are two confirmed cases with history of contact with the index case. They were admitted to Calicut Medical College Hospital and died due to Nipah virus.

The Ministry has mobilized a public health team from NCDC Branch Kozhikode to assess the extent of problem, for risk assessment and management.  They are assisting the State Level Team already deployed at the epicentre.  So far, seven patients have been admitted to Baby Memorial Hospital and the Government Medical College at Kozhikode and at the Amrutha Medical College, Ernakulum.

Union Minister for Health J P Nadda has urged citizens not to believe in rumours posted on social media and not to spread panic.

The field team has advised hospitals to follow intracranial pressure (ICP) guidelines, use personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers and sample collection, assist in enhancing active fever surveillance in the community, strengthen contact tracing in close contact cases, relatives, health care workers, ensure isolation facilities, ventilator support and hospital infection control practices, and enhance surveillance for unusual illness and deaths in animals.

The Ministry has ensured availability of diagnostic kits, personal protective equipment and risk communication materials. High quality personal protection equipment has been provided to health care personnel.

A total of nine individuals are currently under treatment. Isolation wards have been opened in many hospitals in Kozhikode. Hospitals in public and private sector have been provided with personal protective equipment. Appropriate steps to contain this virus have been taken among domestic animals such as pigs. This appears to be a localised occurrence, according to a PIB release.

With early and efficient containment measures undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Government of Kerala, the outbreak is unlikely to spread. The Virus Research Diagnostic Laboratory at Manipal Hospital and the National Institute of Virology, Pune, a premier institute for research in virology, are geared up to meet any diagnostic challenges that may arise.