Bangladesh variant of Nipah virus raises concern in Kerala, two deaths reported

• Kerala confirms Nipah virus outbreak, with two deaths from the Bangladesh variant
• The Bangladesh variant of Nipah is less infectious but associated with a higher mortality rate
• Stringent measures, including surveillance and contact tracing, are being implemented to contain the virus, and alerts are issued in neighboring districts

In a concerning development, the Kerala government revealed in the state assembly on Wednesday that the Nipah virus responsible for two recent deaths in the Kozhikode district is a strain of the Bangladesh variant, which has the ability to transmit from human to human. The virus has already claimed two lives out of four confirmed cases, posing a significant public health challenge.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George disclosed that this variant of the Nipah virus, while less infectious, is associated with a higher mortality rate. The recent deaths linked to the virus occurred on August 30 and earlier this month, marking the fourth Nipah outbreak in Kerala since 2018.

The Nipah virus, a zoonotic pathogen, has no known treatments or vaccines. It is transmitted to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected bats, pigs, or other individuals. The virus was first identified in 1999 during an outbreak affecting pig farmers and those in close contact with pigs in Malaysia and Singapore.

To combat the emerging health crisis, Health Minister George announced a series of stringent measures, including intensified surveillance, comprehensive contact tracing, the classification of individuals into low and high-risk categories, the establishment of isolation facilities, delineation of containment zones, and the procurement of necessary medicines from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for infected individuals.

Moreover, an alert has been issued for the districts of Kannur, Wayanad, and Malappuram in Kerala to monitor and control the potential spread of the virus, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.