Nipah Virus: Travelers asked to avoid four Kerala districts
In the wake of the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, the state government has asked travelers to avoid visiting four northern districts of Kerala. State health secretary Rajeev Sadanandan issued an advisory saying that traveling to any part of Kerala was safe. But if travelers wished to be extra cautious, they may avoid the four districts: Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad, and Kannur.
Govt surveillance being conducted in Kozhikode
A few cases of infection by the virus have been reported from Kozhikode district in Kerala, the advisory said. Surveillance by the government is being conducted in Kozhikode district and in the neighboring districts of Malappuram, Wayanad, and Kannur. "The health department is taking effective steps for management of reported cases and surveillance. The situation remains under control," the advisory said.
New batch of medicines arrives
Health department sources said that 2,000 Ribavirin tablets, an antiviral medicine, have already reached Kozhikode while another batch of 8,000 tablets is expected to be delivered later in the day. Ten persons have died of Nipah virus so far in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. Two more persons who died of high fever are suspected to have contracted the virus.
Fruit bats, the natural hosts of the virus
Nipah virus (NiV) infection is a newly emerging zoonosis that causes severe disease in both animals and humans. The natural host of the virus is the fruit bat of the Pteropodidae family, Pteropus genus.
