Nipah Virus Latest Updates: Over 1,200 Contacts Traced, 61 Test Negative, 352 High-Risk

Kerala, India - Kerala's Health Minister, Veena George, has reported that no new cases of the Nipah virus have emerged, and 61 samples from high-risk contacts, including healthcare workers, have tested negative. This announcement comes as a sigh of relief amidst heightened concerns over the brain-damaging Nipah virus outbreak in the Kozhikode district.

Kerala has confirmed a total of six Nipah infection cases in the current outbreak, with two fatalities, reducing the number of active cases to four. The state has implemented rigorous measures, including contact tracing, quarantine protocols, and public awareness campaigns, to contain the virus's spread.

Key Updates on the Nipah Virus Situation:

1. High-Risk Contacts Identified: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the World Health Organization have identified nine Indian states, including Kerala, with a potential for Nipah outbreaks. Kerala has classified 1,233 contacts of infected individuals into 'high-risk' (352) and 'low-risk' categories, and they are all under isolation.

2. Control Room Established: The Kerala government has established a dedicated control room to manage the Nipah virus situation effectively.

3. Special Teams Deployed: Nineteen teams have been formed by the Kerala government following the Nipah protocol, which was updated in 2021 and 2023. These teams are actively conducting surveys in relevant locations.

4. Genomic Sequencing Results Awaited: The results of genomic sequencing, aimed at confirming the absence of a second wave of the Nipah outbreak, are expected to be available soon. These findings will provide crucial insights into the virus's behavior.

5. Bat Samples Sent for Testing: Around 36 bat samples have been sent to Pune's National Institute of Virology (NIV) to ascertain the presence of the Nipah virus among mammals.

6. Indian Genotype Identified: The Nipah virus strain found in Kerala is identified as the Indian Genotype (I-Genotype), similar to the strain found in Bangladesh. There are two known strains of the Nipah Virus, one originating in Malaysia and the other in Bangladesh.

7. Extended Incubation Period: While the Nipah virus's incubation period, including containment and quarantine, is typically 21 days, the Kerala government has extended it to 42 days from the last reported positive case.

Health Minister Veena George emphasized that the situation in Kerala remains under control, with all recent samples from contacts of infected individuals testing negative. The state continues its vigilant efforts to prevent further spread of the Nipah virus.