Adam Hartley
New Delhi, August 26: Two persons suspected of having the Nipah virus have tested negative in Kerala, South India, amid rising concerns over multiple viral outbreaks across the country’s 1.4 billion population.
The patients are a 25-year-old man and his 55-year-old paternal uncle from Mattannur town of Kannur district in Kerala. They were initially treated at a private hospital before being shifted to Kannur Medical College, where test results confirmed they did not have the Nipah virus.
“The samples from both the patients have tested negative for Nipah virus using TrueNat and RT-PCR methods,” Dr. K. Sudeep, Hospital Superintendent told Climate Health Review. “It’s a big relief,” he said.
The patients from Mattannur were admitted with high fever and severe vomiting, which caused considerable alarm. The district medical officer (DMO) requested their transfer to the medical college due to concerns about a possible Nipah infection. In response, Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Dr. Sarin and the hospital control room promptly implemented emergency measures to manage the situation.
The negative test results come amid a climate of heightened concern in India, where multiple viral outbreaks are currently threatening public health. The country is grappling with outbreaks of Chandipur virus, dengue, and cholera, all of which have led to numerous casualties.
In July, a 14-year-old boy from Malappuram tested positive for Nipah virus and died during treatment, as reported by Climate Health Review. This incident prompted immediate and extensive measures by the Kerala government to contain the virus and prevent further spread.
In response to the outbreak, the Kerala government implemented a range of control measures. These included setting up special control rooms, establishing intensive care facilities, and instituting temporary restrictions in affected areas. A 42-day double incubation period was monitored, leading to the recent declaration that Malappuram is now free of the Nipah virus. All 472 individuals on the contact list have been cleared, and restrictions have been lifted.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George announced urged the public not to destroy bat habitats, as disturbing them could increase virus transmission. She also advised against eating fruits bitten by birds and drinking honey from banana peels, which could be contaminated by bats.
The Nipah virus, which is transmitted from animals to humans, can be fatal. In 2018, at least 17 people from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts died due to the virus. While Nipah infections are rare in India, they do occur sporadically in Kerala and need to be taken seriously. Most survivors of Nipah virus infection and encephalitis make a full recovery.
The risk of human exposure to the Nipah virus is linked to the prevalence of the virus in fruit bats of the genus _Pteropus_. Research published in the journal PNAS indicated that the virus could circulate among fruit bats in any region where they exist. During outbreaks among bats, the virus is shed in feces, urine, and other body fluids, creating an opportunity for it to jump to humans.
In September last year, 49 test results, including those collected from bats, returned negative, offering a glimmer of hope in the battle against the virus.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been considering developing a vaccine against the Nipah virus, leveraging platforms used for COVID-19 vaccines, according to ICMR Director-General Rajiv Bahl. The existing portfolio of vaccine platforms, including DNA, mRNA, adenoviral vector, protein subunit, and nasal vaccines, provides valuable assets for tackling diseases like Nipah.
The World Health Organization (WHO), following joint studies with the ICMR, has cautioned nine Indian states, including Kerala, about the probability of Nipah occurrences. These studies revealed the presence of the Indian genotype of the virus in Kerala, similar to strains in Bangladesh, alongside two other distinct strains from Malaysia and Bangladesh.
