KOZHIKODE: A five-member central team, led by Dr Mala Chhabra, microbiologist at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital and comprising multi-disciplinary experts, arrived in the district on Thursday to take stock of the Nipah situation and to assist the state in management of the outbreak. It will visit Maruthonkara and Ayanchary panchayats, from where the cases were reported, on Friday.
Test results and treatment
The 11 samples sent for tests on Wednesday have tested negative. Samples of 15 persons in the high-risk contact list were sent for tests on Thursday. A mobile biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) from NIV, Pune has arrived at Kozhikode government medical college hospital, and the tests will be conducted at the facility hereafter.
According to authorities, doses of the monoclonal antibody required for providing treatment to 25 persons have arrived in Kozhikode, but the drug will be administered only as recommended by the central expert committee.
Expanding vigilance
Vigil has been enhanced in the neighbouring Malappuram district as well after a 60-year-old woman with suspected Nipah symptoms was admitted to Manjeri medical college on Wednesday. Her test results are awaited.
Current cases and condition of patients
The 60-year-old woman is not in the contact list of Nipah-positive persons in Kozhikode. In Kozhikode, five Nipah positive cases have been reported so far and these include the two deceased and three persons under treatment. The nine-year-old boy, son of index case Mohammedali, who tested positive on September 12 is on ventilator support. The condition of Mohammedali’s brother-in-law and the healthcare worker is stable. The route map of the 24-year-old health worker who tested positive on Wednesday has been published.
Government directives and actions
Health minister Veena George chaired a review meeting and directed health authorities to seek the help of police in tracing the contacts. As many as 234 more contacts of Nipah positive cases were traced on Thursday, taking the total number of persons in the contact list to 950. The minister said all high-risk contacts of the index case who died on August 30 would be tested for the virus. Those who are in the contact list should remain under isolation for 21 days. Medical boards will be formed in all hospitals where Nipah patients are treated and they will decide the treatment modalities. Steps have been taken to set up isolation wards in private hospitals as well.
Expert team and coordination
A five-member central team, including experts from various institutions, is coordinating with the animal husbandry department on containment measures. Union minister of state for health and family welfare Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar visited ICMR-NIV, Pune and reviewed steps taken for containment of the outbreak.
Precautionary measures and investigations
The district collector has declared a holiday for educational institutions in Kozhikode district on Saturday as a precautionary measure. Holidays have already been declared for educational institutions, including professional colleges, anganwadis, madrassas, tuition centres, and coaching centres, on Thursday and Friday. The veterinary department is looking into suspicious deaths of wild boars in areas near the Nipah reported areas. Police have intensified enforcement of restrictions in containment zones and health workers have conducted surveillance activities in over 5,000 houses.
- A central team of experts arrives in Kozhikode to assess the Nipah situation and assist in management of the outbreak.
- The 11 samples tested on Wednesday are negative, and samples of 15 high-risk contacts are sent for testing on Thursday.
- Doses of the monoclonal antibody for treatment have arrived, but will be administered as recommended by the central expert committee.
- Vigilance is expanded to the neighbouring Malappuram district after a woman with suspected Nipah symptoms is admitted to a hospital.
- Five Nipah positive cases are reported in Kozhikode, including two deceased and three under treatment.
- Health minister directs authorities to seek police help in contact tracing, and 234 more contacts are traced.
- Medical boards will be formed in hospitals treating Nipah patients to decide treatment modalities.
- A central team coordinates with the animal husbandry department on containment measures.
- Precautionary measures include holidays for educational institutions and investigation into suspicious wild boar deaths.
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