With yet another outbreak of Nipah virus reported in Kerala, ICMR is planning to start work on developing a vaccine against the viral disease. A fresh case of Nipah virus was confirmed in Kozhikode, taking the total number of people infected in the state to six, two of had died earlier.
"Our biggest asset at the moment is that we have developed vaccines on diverse platforms during Covid such as DNA vaccine, mRNA vaccine, adenoviral vector vaccine, protein subunit vaccine, and nasal vaccine, and we can use these diverse platforms to develop the new vaccine against disease such as Nipah infection," ICMR DG Rajeev Bahl said, adding the procedure involves looking for partners - who can make it, and on which platform.
The first Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala was in 2018, with Kozhikode being the epicentre. Malappuram, too, was affected then. Seventeen people had died. There were Nipah virus outbreaks in West Bengal, too, in 2001 and 2007.
Bahl said that all efforts are on to contain the spread of the virus in Kerala. All patients are contact of an index patient, he said.
India to procure 20 more doses of monoclonal antibody from Australia
India has reached out to Australia for procuring 20 more doses of monoclonal antibody for the treatment of Nipah virus infection.
"We got some doses of monoclonal antibody from Australia in 2018. Currently the doses are available for only 10 patients," Bahl said, adding globally monoclonal antibody has been given to 14 patients infected with Nipah virus outside India and all of them have survived.
"Only phase 1 trial to establish the safety of the medicine has been done outside. Efficacy trials have not been done. It can only given as compassionate use medicine," he said.
According to him, no one so far has been administered the medicine in India.
"Twenty more doses are being procured. But the medicine needs to be given during the early stage of the infection," he said, adding it can only given as compassionate use medicine.
Nipah has higher mortality than Covid
Bahl said mortality among the infected is very high in Nipah (between 40 and 70 per cent) compared to the mortality in Covid, which was 2-3 per cent.
On why cases keep surfacing in Kerala, Bahl said, "We do not know. In 2018, we found the outbreak in Kerala was related to bats. We are not sure how the infection passed from bats to humans. The link couldn't be established. Again we are trying to find out this time. It always happens in the rainy season."
ICMR's National Institute of Virology in Pune is conducting whole genome sequencing of the virus to know which exact variant is in circulation in Kerala.
Meanwhile he said the Mobile BSL 3 Laboratory which has been sent to Kozikodhe to enable testing at the district itself there testing of samples have already begun.
In view of high mortality, Bahl said taking precautions is the best option. He advised people to follow social distancing, wear masks and stay away from raw food that could be exposed to bats.
Guidelines for Sabarimala pilgrimage
Kerala High Court has asked the state government to issue guidelines, if required, for the pilgrimage to Sabarimala when it opens for the monthly puja in view of the Nipah outbreak.
The court asked the Travancore Devaswom Board commissioner to hold discussions with the health secretary and take a decision on the matter.
The hilltop shrine in Pathanamthitta district opens for five days every Malayalam month. This month, it will open for pilgrims on Sunday.
The state government, meanwhile, informed the court that restrictions have been imposed in Kozhikode.
