Killer Nipah Virus Back In Kerala; NIV Confirms Sample Positive (Photo Pixabay)

The deadly Nipah virus, with no cure found yet, once again threatened public health in Kerala, with a suspected case reported from Malappuram on Friday.

Amid the surging monsoon-induced epidemics in the state, a 14-year-old boy from Perinthalmanna was admitted to a private hospital, with the symptoms of the zoonotic virus Nipah. Upon analysing symptoms of the deadly disease, the doctors sent the boy’s samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for final confirmation.

Read Als: Nipah Virus: “All Four Patients Tested Double Negative”, Says Kerala Health Minister

The NIV, after testing his samples today, confirmed that the boy has tested positive for the Nipah virus. However, the patient’s condition is reported to be stable.

Nipah has been a nightmare to the people of Kerala since it first broke out in 2018, killing 17 people. Since then, the deadly virus has appeared again in subsequent years. A virus with a high mortality rate, nearly 75 percent of those infected is reported to be at risk of potential fatality.

Read Also: Nipah Virus In Kozhikode: No New Cases On Saturday

Following the outbreak with first case confirmed in the state, Health Minister Veena George convened a high-level meeting Malappuram district today. The meeting included discussion regarding the measures to be taken to prevent the spread of the virus and to ensure the safety of the public.

There is no medication or vaccine to treat the infection, and managing symptoms is the only way to combat Nipah. The virus is usually transmitted from animals to humans and can also be infected through contaminated food,