Two More Deaths as Minister Says Nipah Virus Outbreak ‘Contained’

A nurse, who was treating a patient infected by the Nipah virus, also died in Kerala.

Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja said authorities have contained the outbreak of the Nipah virus effectively in the state, even as it emerged that two more people suspected to be infected by the virus died on Tuesday, 22 May, at the Kozhikode Medical College.

Asserting that the state government has been taking proactive measures to ensure treatment for the patients as well as precautionary measures, the Health Minister told Hindustan Times that "everything is under control and there is no need to panic.” Fruit bats are being seen as the "main suspect" behind the outbreak, she added.

Till now, at least six deaths due to the Nipah virus have been confirmed, while there have been multiple other cases where it is not yet confirmed if the deaths were due to the virus.

Nurse Treating Nipah-Infected Patient Dies

Among those who have died was a nurse who used to work at a hospital in Perambra. She was looking after a patient who died of Nipah, reported The News Minute. After collecting the nurse's blood samples, her body was immediately cremated by the authorities without being handed over to the family so that there's no possible further transmission of the virus.

Meanwhile, the authorities also found that there were bats inside a well located in a compound of a house of a family which lost three members to the virus, the report added. As a precautionary measure, authorities have sealed the well. The family lives in Changaroth panchayat of the Kozhikode district.

Human-to-Human Transmission Behind the Spread?

On the question of how the virus is being spread in the state, some experts said it could be a possible case of human-to-human transmission.

It could be a case of human-to-human transmission, but it is too early to confirm that as our expert team has just reached the spot, and will take about a day or two to submit the report.

Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan to Hindustan Times

Doctors treating patients with the symptoms have also not ruled out human-to-human transmission.

The medical director of Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) in Kochi told HT that the high infection rate was suggestive of human-to-human transmission. "It is unlikely that so many people will eat the same food or drink the same water," he said.