No new Nipah deaths, one more tested positive

18 people under observation at various hospitals with suspected symptoms

A fruit vendor other people wearing masks in Kozhikode. Fruits sales have come down following Nipah virus scare. S. Ramesh Kurup

One more person undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) here has been tested positive for the Nipah virus infection. However, no new death was reported due to the infection on Wednesday.

Of the three people currently undergoing treatment at hospitals and whose blood and body fluid samples have been tested positive for the Nipah infection so far, one is from Malappuram district and two are from Kozhikode district.

R.L. Saritha, Director of Health Services, told the media that they were stable and responding to treatment.

Also, 16 people are under observation at various government hospitals in the State with suspected symptoms. Eight of them are from Kozhikode district, seven from Malappuram, and one from Wayanad district.

Two others with suspected symptoms are undergoing treatment at private hospitals in Kozhikode district.

Treatment protocol

Dr. Saritha said that experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) were assisting doctors from the MCH to prepare a detailed treatment protocol. An infection control protocol for the Health Department staff too was in the pipeline.

Ribavirin tablets

As many as 2,000 tablets of Ribavirin, an antiviral drug, had been procured and 8,000 more were on the way for distribution among patients with symptoms and those tested positive.

However, K.J. Reena, Additional Director (Public Health), said the tablets would be administered only after detailed examination and trials as the drug was reported to have adverse effects. “One patient may have to consume as many as 280 tablets to complete a course. It may affect organs such as kidney and heart.”

Tests on animals

Meanwhile, N. Sasi, Additional Director, Animal Husbandry, said body fluid samples of fruit-eating bats, suspected carriers of Nipah virus, would be collected from Perambra to ascertain the source of the infection. “So far no animal in Kozhikode district has the presence of the virus or the symptoms. The source of the infection could be understood only after detailed examination,” he said.

A department team had earlier collected body fluid samples of cattle, pigs, and insectivorous bats from the region. They had been sent to the National Institute of High Security Diseases in Bhopal and the results were expected on Friday.

Kozhikode District Medical Officer V. Jayashree said here on Wednesday that many people had been thronging the MCH here demanding that their blood samples be tested for Nipah infection.

“Only those with specific symptoms should make available their blood and body fluid samples,” Dr. Jayashree said adding the unnecessary rush might delay the results of those who might have been infected.