No new cases of Nipah Virus disease in Kerala : Dr Harsh Vardhan

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : ” There has been no new case of Nipah virus disease,” said Union Health and Family Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on who has been regularly reviewing the status of Nipah virus disease in Kerala. He assured the Health Minister of Kerala K K Shailaja when she called on him on June 7 that the Central Government will continue to extend all support to the Kerala Government for its prevention and management.

A case of Nipah was reported from Ernakulum district, Kerala on June3 , 2019. Soon after the case was reported,Dr Harsh Vardhan took stock of the situation and multi disciplinary Central teams have been deployed, which include experts from the NCDC, AIIMS and ICMR, in Kerala. The team is supporting the State in investigations, contact tracing, sample testing and management of the NiVD.

Experts from NIHSAD, Bhopal, are supporting the local Animal Husbandry Department in investigation. The team from animal health side has collected samples from livestock and has also collected samples of bat droppings. NIV Team with 3 entomologists has been deployed in the two residential locations of the index case (where there is possibility of case getting infection from bats / other sources). Strategic Health Operation Centre (SHOC) at NCDC has been activated since June 4, 2019, and is coordinating with field teams on surveillance and response activities for Nipah containment.

A dedicated phone line has been established at SHOC to answer queries of general public. Till date, only 42 calls have been received. Point of Care Test facility has been established at Medical college Ernakulum. Karnataka has increased surveillance for NiVD in districts neighboring Kerala.

The condition of one positive case is stable. There have been no new case. Out of eleven suspects, ten have tested negative and result for one is awaited. A total of 318 contacts are under quarantine, according to a PIB release.