A multidisciplinary team involving experts from various government departments will be constituted to ascertain the source of the Nipah virus infection in Kozhikode.
This was revealed by A.P. Sugunan, scientist, Regional Medical Research Centre of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Port Blair, here on Monday. He is part of the ICMR team camping here to conduct an epidemiological study into the source of the infection.
The help of Veterinary, Virology and allied departments would be necessary for this laborious task, Mr. Sugunan said. “The Health Secretary has suggested that we seek the help of experts from various fields. The team members have been identified and it will be formally constituted soon,” he saod.
Mr. Sugunan said that just because the lab results of the body fluid samples of some bats had been negative, the possibility of them being the carrier of the virus could not be ruled out. The proportion of infection in fruit bats was visible only to a small extent, as per the studies till date. The infective period was short too. To exclude all possibilities, the body fluid samples of the remaining two pet rabbits in the house of V. Moosa of Chengaroth would be sent for detailed lab tests.
Abhijith Kadam of the ICMR on Monday briefed the doctors and pharmacists of the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, about the mode of application of the human monoclonal antibody procured from Australia.
Meanwhile, no new deaths or positive cases were reported due to the infection for the fourth consecutive day. R.L. Saritha, Director, Health Services, said 24 people were under observation at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, now. Five of them were admitted on Monday.
The lab results of all the 18 samples received on the day were negative. As many as 2,371 were under surveillance of the department.
Dr. Saritha said that the future course of treatment for the two infected persons, the lab results of whose body fluid samples had turned out to be negative in the recent days, would be decided by a team of experts from medical colleges in the State.
Animal Husbandry study
The Animal Husbandry Department has proposed a detailed epidemiological study into the source of the outbreak. N.N. Sasi, Director, Animal Husbandry, said it would delve into the origin of the infection, in what circumstances it spread, and the possibility of a future outbreak. Details of domesticated and wild animals in Chengaroth and the geographical details of the area would be included in it.
