What to know about the spread of Nipah virus in the state of Kerala, India

The Indian state of Kerala is racing to contain a fresh outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus Two So far and least affected people FiveAccording to government officials.

Schools in Kozhikode district have been affected ClosedSeveral villages have been declared restricted zones 950 contacts have been identified, of which 213 are considered “high risk”. Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Wednesday confirmed the fifth victim, a 24-year-old health worker. The victim, a 9-year-old boy, is on ventilator, state media reported said.

A Report On social media, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said people should not panic but “face this situation with caution” and “cooperate fully with the controls” to contain the disease. Kerala has seen four Nipah outbreaks since 2018, the last of which occurred in 2021, as the state also battles a wave of Covid-19 cases.

WHO estimates the mortality rate of Nipah virus 40 to 75 percent and listed it as a priority disease because of its epidemic potential. The strain identified in Kerala, known as the Bangladeshi strain, has a high mortality rate but low infectivity, according to Indian media. reported.

Here’s what you need to know.

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