Kochi: A suspected case of Nipah virus which had spread havoc in the state last year is being reported from Ernakulam.
The Health Minister, K. K. Shylaja said that a student was admitted to a private hospital is suspected to be affected by the deadly virus. The samples have been sent to National Institute of Virology in Pune to confirm the presence of Nipah.
The symptoms exhibited by the patient is likely to be that of Nipah and more tests are being done today. He is a student who hails from Ernakulam. Around 86 persons who have been in contact with him are under observation.
Last year 17 people died of Nipah virus, with majority of the death occurring in Kozhikode. The team of doctors at Kozhikode Medical College, who stood their ground against the deadly virus last year and were successful in containing the disease are set to reach Kochi for further assistance.
The symptoms of Nipah includes fever, headaches, vomiting, and fainting. Some patients might develop epileptic seizures and the symptoms will last for 10-12 days. Brain fever develops at the last stage of the infection.
The minister said that medicines will be brought from Australia are stored in National Institute of Virology. If the virus is confirmed then the government will make efforts to obtain the medicines from the institute.
Isolations wards are opened in Kochi, Kalamassery, Kozhikode, and Thrissur Medical Colleges to contain those who are brought to the hospital with symptoms of the virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has claimed that Nipah is a new disease that is emerging and is transmitted by fruit bats to humans and animals. The name comes from the name of a village in Malaysia, Sungai Nipah, where the disease was first identified.
