Health Desk – In Kerala, a 24-year-old man from Malappuram district recently died from the Nipah virus, marking the second death from this virus in the state this year. He was a student in Bengaluru and passed away on September 9 after showing signs of encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain.
After he died, doctors sent his samples to a virology lab at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital for testing. The results confirmed he had the Nipah virus. The National Institute of Virology in Pune also confirmed this finding.
The Kerala government found out that 151 people had close contact with him. Since he had visited many places with his friends and had been treated at four private hospitals, all these contacts are being closely monitored. Anyone who showed even mild symptoms is now in isolation, and their samples are being tested.
Health officials are almost done with tracing and keeping an eye on everyone who might be at risk of getting infected. This sad event happened not long after a 14-year-old boy from Pandikkad, which is about 10 kilometers from Wandoor, died from the Nipah virus in July this year.
Since 2018, Kerala has dealt with five outbreaks of the Nipah virus. Out of all the confirmed cases since then, only six people have survived. In 2018, there was a severe outbreak where 17 out of 18 infected people died. This year, there have already been two deaths due to the Nipah virus.
