Nipah contained, no need to panic, say Centre and state
NEWDELHI/KOZHIKKODE: The highly contagious Nipah virus, which has claimed 11 lives in Kerala, has been contained and there was no need to panic, the Union health ministry and the state government reiterated on Wednesday.
“It was a highly localised infection and we have been able to contain it well,” Union health secretary Preeti Sudan said, adding that no new cases had been reported.
Kerala health minister KK Shailaja said the timely intervention by health officials had limited the damage caused by the virus. “No fresh case has been reported from the districts of Kozhikode and Malappuram. We have effectively contained the scourge. The central team has advised us to provide Ribavirin tablets to the affected,” she said but added that worst-affected areas were likely to be on high alert for some more time.
At present, seven infected people were being treated in isolation wards in the state. Another seven, including three persons from Karnataka’s Mangaluru who travelled to the Nipah-hit Kerala districts, were under observation though they had not shown symptoms of the infection.
Sudan said it was not an outbreak and there was no need to panic. “All contacts have been traced, people have been treated and kept under observation. Special kits have been distributed for healthcare workers in the state for their protection,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Kerala government announced a compensation of ₹20 lakh for the family of Lini Puthussery, a 31-year-old nurse who died after attending to those infected by Nipah, and ₹5 lakh to the kin of other deceased.