Valachukeetil Moosa, 55, father of Mohammed Sadik and Mohammed Salih, who died of Nipah infection, is battling for life at a private hospital in the city.
Senior doctors at the hospital confirmed that Moosa of Panthirikkara Sooppikkada in Changaroth grama panchayat near Perambra, had been infected with the rare virus.
Another patient from Nadapuram who has shown symptoms of encephalitis is under observation. The samples of serum, sputum, and cerebrospinal fluid of the patient have been sent to the Manipal Centre for Virus Research to determine the suspected case. Both the patients have been put on ventilator and are being given supportive care at the hospital.
So far, only four cases of Nipah virus infection have been confirmed in the district, and death occurred in three of them, a team of doctors at Baby Memorial Hospital (BMH), where the virus was first detected, told the media here on Monday.
They said Mohammed Sadik and Mohammed Salih had died on May 5 and May 18 respectively. Mariyam, 50, the paternal aunt of the brothers, had succumbed to the infection on May 19.
“The detection of Nipah virus has been made possible after conducting an autopsy of Mohammed Salih and confirming through tests of samples of blood and brain fluids at the Manipal Centre for Virus Research. Besides, A.S. Anoopkumar, consultant and chief of critical care medicine at BMH, said. He added that Atifa, 19, Salih’s fiancée, who had tested negative for Nipah, was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi.
The team of doctors, including G. Gangaprasad, V.M. Fabith Moideen, and C. Jayakrishnan, said the Health Department along with private hospitals had swung into action after the presence of the virus was confirmed in the district. Prompt and precautionary measures were taken when more suspected cases were reported, they added.
Meanwhile, samples of blood and brain fluids of suspected cases have been sent to virology institutes for further examination. “Of course, it is an outbreak as infection has been confirmed in more than two patients, but there is no panic situation in the district. The government has already taken measures to trace all those who have come into contact with those infected with the virus,” Dr. Anoopkumar said.
