NIPAH Virus: How is the situation of Nipah in Kerala? Which age group is more at risk? Know all the important things here.

The southern state of Kerala is in the grip of a severe and deadly Nipah virus these days. So far, two people have died due to the infection; the infection was confirmed in six people. Kozhikode district of Kerala is most vulnerable to infection, apart from this, an alert has been issued in about 30 cities regarding the risks. In view of the danger of infection in Kerala, surrounding states have also been alerted. According to media reports, compared to Corona, Nipah can cause severe illness and increase the risks, its mortality rate can also be higher, which is a matter of concern at the moment.

Talking about the latest situation of infection in the state, the problem here seems to be under control at present, no new case of disease has been confirmed in the last three days. On Monday, 71 samples were sent for testing, all of which were found negative. Apart from this, reports of more than 200 high-risk people have also come negative. However, health experts say that all people should keep trying to prevent infection.

What does the Health Minister say?

State Health Minister Veena George says, 'At present, the situation is under control. The condition of the 9-year-old infected person is continuously improving; he was earlier put on ventilator support. The state of all four infected people is improving. Of the 1,233 people in the contact list of the infected, 352 are at high risk. We hope that in the coming days, we can control the situation in a better way. Continuous efforts are being made to prevent and reduce the risks of infection.

Could you be careful about these symptoms?

Health experts say everyone needs to remain cautious about the risks of Nipah. Could you pay serious attention to its symptoms? Infected people initially have flu-like symptoms. The Nipah virus mainly attacks the lungs and brain. Its symptoms can range from cough and sore throat to rapid breathing, fever, and gastrointestinal problems like nausea and vomiting.

In severe cases, it may cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), which is known to increase the risk of coma and death.

Which age group is at risk?

Health experts say that anyone can be at risk of this deadly infection; everyone from children to the elderly are at risk. Anyone who comes in contact with an infected person or animal can contract this disease. People who have weak immunity may have a higher risk of developing severe problems due to this disease than others; such people need to take special precautions.

How to get protection from infection

Health experts say there is no vaccine available to prevent Nipah infection; apart from this, there is also no specific medicine to prevent the disease. This is why health experts advise all people to continue following preventive measures to stay safe. Along with taking precautions in preventative measures, the risks can be reduced by taking care of hand hygiene. In states where the risk is high, everyone has been advised to remain alert.