Kerala develops special action plan to prevent Nipah virus outbreak
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The Kerala government announced on Tuesday that a special action calendar is being formulated to prevent a potential Nipah virus outbreak, a threat the state has faced four times in recent years.
The presence of Nipah virus antibodies has been detected in bats across Kozhikode, Wayanad, Idukki, Malappuram, and Ernakulam districts.
State Health Minister Veena George stated that the action calendar will cover activities throughout the year, with a focus on the May to September period when the zoonotic virus is most likely to spread.
"We are preparing a comprehensive action calendar to include year-round activities, especially from May to September," Veena George said. She revealed this following a high-level meeting of health officials to discuss preventive measures and the state’s preparedness for any Nipah emergency.
She emphasized the need to prioritize Nipah and bird flu prevention activities. "Preparedness should be strengthened in collaboration with the Animal Husbandry, Forest, and Education departments," she said.
She also highlighted the importance of conducting mock drills to assess the state's emergency response capabilities. Special attention will be directed towards the northern districts of Kozhikode and Wayanad.
Health officials have been instructed to carry out intensive Nipah prevention campaigns in these districts until September. Awareness drives will be intensified through health centers, with caution to avoid disrupting the natural habitat of bats.
"Special attention should be given to patients presenting with fever, headache, unexplained shortness of breath, and encephalitis. Any deaths occurring before the cause can be ascertained should be reported," the health minister stated, noting that private hospitals are also required to follow these procedures.
The meeting was attended by several high-profile officials, including the health secretary, the National Health Mission state director, the health director, and the medical education director.
This initiative comes after Nipah virus outbreaks were reported in Kozhikode in 2018, 2021, and 2023, and in Ernakulam in 2019, with antibody presence confirmed in bats in multiple districts.