Following two fatalities resulting from the lethal brain-damaging Nipah virus, the Kerala government sprung into action to mitigate the spread and imposed stringent restrictions. Consequently, schools and offices in the state will remain closed.
An alert was issued by the Kerala Health Department on Tuesday after two deaths were reported, as a result of Kozhikode. Subsequently, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed that the deaths were linked to the Nipah virus.
These two fatalities occurred at a private hospital situated in Kozhikode. Among those receiving medical care, four individuals were relatives of the second deceased individual. Later, their samples were dispatched for testing, resulting in two positive cases – a 9-year-old child and a 24-year-old relative. Regrettably, the minor child of the deceased now resides in a ventilation unit within a private healthcare facility.
In response to this developing situation, a high-level meeting convened under the guidance of Kerala Health Minister Veena George to assess the circumstances. Kozhikode has previously encountered two Nipah virus outbreaks, one in 2018 and another in 2021. The initial outbreak in 2018 saw the identification of 23 cases, with 17 individuals succumbing to this zoonotic virus.
An official from Kerala’s health ministry clarified that the virus is typically transmitted to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected bats, pigs, or other humans.
To mitigate the spread of the virus, the government has imposed lockdown-like restrictions in containment zones, effective as of Wednesday. Here is a summary of the measures enacted by the Kerala government in response to the Nipah virus:
- Neighbouring districts such as Kannur, Wayanad, and Malappuram have been placed on alert following several positive Nipah cases.
- The Education Minister, V Sivankutty, has instructed the Public Education Director to organize online classes for students in all schools located within the containment zone.
- Entry and exit in 43 wards within the seven gram panchayats designated as containment zones have been restricted
- Only essential businesses, including food and medicine establishments, are permitted to operate, with working hours restricted from 7 am to 5 pm. Medical shops and health centres are exempt from time restrictions.
- In designated containment zones, compliance with social distancing, mask-wearing, and the use of sanitisers is compulsory.
- Vehicular traffic on public roads within containment zones is prohibited, and those travelling on national and state highways, as well as buses along these routes, are prohibited from stopping within the containment zones.
- Local government offices or village offices are required to operate with minimal staffing levels. However, all other institutions, including government, semi-government, public sector banks, schools, and anganwadis, will remain open until further notice.
