Nipah Virus: Schools, Colleges Shut Till September 24 in Kozhikode, Kerala on Alert

Following the Nipah epidemic in Kerala, all educational institutions in Kozhikode have declared a holiday till September 24, 2023.

The holiday was proclaimed by Kozhikode District Collector A Geetha, who said in a Facebook post that educational institutions might hold online classes for pupils till September 24, 2023. The university exam timetable, however, would not change, she stressed.

On Wednesday, a 24-year-old health worker became Kerala's sixth confirmed Nipah case since the disease's recent breakout.

Setup Of A 24-Hour Control Room

Following the Nipah epidemic in Kozhikode, a 24-hour control station was established in the neighboring district of Wayanad. The Wayanad district government also formed 15 core committees to lead prevention and surveillance efforts and respond to emergency situations effectively. The HIV strain seen in the state was the Bangladesh form, which passes from person to person and has a high fatality rate despite being less contagious, according to the administration.

According to State Health Minister Veena George, the condition of all 76 patients in the high-risk contact category is stable. According to the authorities, 13 others with mild symptoms are now being followed in the hospital, with only a 9-year-old child among those infected being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The ICMR had been requested to provide monoclonal antibodies to treat the youngster. It is the only antiviral medication available for Nipah virus infection, albeit it has not yet been clinically confirmed.

Not To Worry: Kerala Health Minister

Following the spread of the brain-damaging virus, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presided over a review meeting. The high-level conference, presided over by the CM, extensively examined the issue, and "we have concluded that all possible prevention measures are in place and there is no need to panic," Veena George stated. The minister further stated that WHO and ICMR investigations revealed that the entire state of Kerala, not only Kozhikode, is vulnerable to such illnesses. People living in forest areas must exercise extreme vigilance, according to George, who noted that the latest instance of the Nipah virus originated within five kilometers of a jungle area.

In addition to the four wards proclaimed on Tuesday, three in Villiappally panchayat and one in Purameri panchayat in Kozhikode district were notified as containment zones on Wednesday. Given the severity of the sickness, the Kozhikode administration classified seven village panchayats as containment zones on Tuesday: Atanchery, Maruthonkara, Tiruvallur, Kuttiyadi, Kayakkodi, Villyapalli, and Kavilumpara.