Kerala Health Minister Veena George's office on Friday said that a 39-year-old man has been confirmed with the Nipah virus, bringing the tally of positive cases to six.
The patient was under observation after he came in contact with a Nipah-positive person in a hospital where the latter sought treatment. Another 24-year-old health worker had become fifth confirmed Nipah case on Wednesday.
Of the three infected people under treatment, the condition of a nine-year-old boy remains critical.
So far, the number of people in the contact list prepared by the state government has touched 950, including 287 health workers. Of this, 213 are in the high-risk category. While four in high-risk categories are currently in a private hospital, 17 people are under surveillance at the Kozhikode Medical College.
Monoclonal antibody
The state has said that the antibody requested by the state to combat the deadly virus has reached the state. So far, the antiviral is the only option available to the government to treat the infection, though its efficacy has not been clinically proven yet. Kerala Health Minister Veena George said the stability of the antiviral was discussed with a central expert committee.
The m102.4 monoclonal antibody, an experimental therapeutic, was imported during the 2018 Nipah outbreak for the treatment of infected patients on compassionate grounds. It was not used back then as the outbreak had ended by the time it arrived. The standard operating procedures and protocols for its use were prepared at the time with the ICMR's support.
A mobile laboratory has also sent to ground zero to enable the state to test samples. The ICMR's National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune sent its mobile BSL-3 (Biosafety Level-3) laboratory to Kozhikode to test samples for the virus in the district. A five-member central team comprising experts from the National Centre for Disease Control, RML Hospital and NIMHANS has been stationed in Kerala to take stock of the situation and assist the state government in the management of the Nipah infection. Apparently, samples will also be collected from bats to check for the virus' presence.
(With inputs from PTI)
