Nipah virus: Kerala schools shut for a week, Tamil Nadu & Karnataka step up surveillance in border districts

New Delhi: The Nipah virus scare in Kerala has intensified with detection of more cases in Kozhikode district. Till now, the virus has claimed two lives and the total cases tested positive for the deadly virus has risen to six.

The coastal state is in the grip of Nipah virus for fourth time and state govt is pulling out all stops to contain the spread of contagious virus. All schools & educational institutions in Kozhikode have been ordered to stay shut till September 24.

Kerala govt has also decided to ramp up monitoring of high-risk people who allegedly came in contact with infected persons.

India seeks 20 more doses of anti-virus vaccine

Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also sought 20 doses of anti-body vaccine from Australia. Advising extreme caution to people, it said that the Nipah virus is much more fatal than Covid.

“Mortality among the infected person is very high in the virus. It is about 40-70 per cent as compared to the mortality in Covid, which was mere 2-3%,” it told mediapersons.

ICMR DG Rajeev Bahl said that owing to repeated instances of Nipah virus outbreaks in the state, the research body is also exploring ways to develop indigenous vaccine against the viral infection.

Karnataka, TN step up surveillance in border districts

Owing to highly mortality, the adjoining states of Karnataka & Tamil Nadu have intensified fever surveillance in districts bordering Kerala. Close monitoring is also being done at all entry points to state.

Karnataka govt issued an advisory to its residents on unnecessary travel to Kerala, in wake of Nipah virus outbreak.

Tamil Nadu govt also tightened screening at its borders and asked officials to scan the travelers from Kerala to undergo medical tests at border and undergo isolation if detected with flu symptoms.