Mumbai: The Kerala government on Tuesday confirmed a case of Nipah Virus, after the speculation that the disease could return again.
Confirming a case, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailja said today, “A person from Ernakulam in Kochi was tested positive in the results from the Pune University of Virology.”
Nipah Virus is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans) and can be transmitted through contaminated food or even directly between people. In infected people, it leads to asymptomatic (subclinical) infections, diseases like acute respiratory illness and malignant encephalitis. In animals such as pigs, the virus can also cause serious illness, which can result in significant economic loss for the farmers.
According to the reports, a 23-year-old engineering graduate, who went to an isolation ward of Ernakulam, tested positively for the Nipah virus that damaged the brain.
The Kerala government had tried to reduce the fear of a nippy virus spreading for a few days, in which many 86 people were suspected to be infected.
Confirming one case, Kerala health minister KK Shailaja today said, “One person from Kochi’s Ernakulam was tested positive in the results that came from Pune Virology Institute.”
She had added, ” The government is fully equipped to deal with the situation. Special isolation ward set up at Ernakulam Medical College, Kochi.”
