• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Login
NRI Affairs
Youtube Channel
  • News
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Visa
  • Other
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Visa
  • Other
No Result
View All Result
NRI Affairs
No Result
View All Result
Home News

India Procures Australian Antibodies for Nipah Virus as Kerala Reports New Cases

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nipah virus is transmitted by fruit bats and can be potentially fatal to both humans and animals.

NRI Affairs News Desk by NRI Affairs News Desk
September 16, 2023
in News
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
0
India Procures Australian Antibodies for Nipah Virus as Kerala Reports New Cases

Source: DY365

137
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Advertisements

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced the procurement of 20 more doses of monoclonal antibody for the treatment of Nipah virus infection from Australia. During a press briefing in the national capital, ICMR Director General (DG) Rajiv Bahl revealed that India had previously acquired some doses of monoclonal antibody from Australia in 2018, and the current supply is sufficient for only 10 patients.

Dr. Bahl stressed that no patients in India have received this medicine thus far, underscoring the importance of administering it during the early stages of the infection. He noted that the use of these antibodies should be classified as “compassionate use medicine,” and the decision to administer them should involve the State government, medical professionals, and the patients’ families.

Dr. Bahl also mentioned that globally, monoclonal antibodies have been administered to 14 Nipah virus-infected patients outside India, and all of them have survived.

The ICMR DG assured that all necessary measures are being taken to contain the Nipah virus infection in Kerala. He mentioned that most of the cases are linked to contacts of a single index patient.

Furthermore, Dr. Bahl clarified that only a phase 1 trial to assess the safety of the medicine has been conducted, and efficacy trials are yet to be undertaken. Therefore, it can only be administered as compassionate use medicine.

He highlighted the significant difference in mortality rates between Nipah virus and COVID-19, with Nipah virus having a mortality rate ranging from 40% to 70%, considerably higher than COVID-19’s 2-3% mortality rate.

Responding to questions about recurring cases in Kerala, Dr. Bahl stated that the source of infection remains unclear. In 2018, it was linked to bats, but the exact transmission route from bats to humans could not be established. Similar investigations are ongoing this time, and he noted that Nipah virus cases often occur during the rainy season.

Dr. Bahl emphasised that there is currently no vaccine for Nipah virus, and its infectivity is very high. He urged people to practise social distance, wear masks, maintain personal hygiene, isolate if symptoms are identified, avoid raw food exposed to bats, and stay away from bat colonies. Stopping human-to-human contact was deemed crucial in preventing the spread of the virus.

In a recent development, Kerala has reported another confirmed case of Nipah virus infection, bringing the total number of active cases in the state to four. Among the newly infected individuals is a nine-year-old child. This brings the overall tally of Nipah virus infections in Kerala to six, with two reported deaths.

The 39-year-old patient has been placed under observation in a hospital located in Kozhikode, as stated by the state health minister’s office.

Advertisements

To curb the spread of the infection, the state government has implemented stringent measures. Notably, two Nipah virus-related deaths occurred in Kozhikode on August 30 and September 11.

In response, samples from 15 individuals in the high-risk category within the contact list have been sent for testing in Kerala. The contact list comprises 950 individuals, with 213 falling into the high-risk category. Additionally, the list includes 287 healthcare workers.

Four high-risk individuals are currently receiving treatment at a private hospital, while 17 people are under surveillance at the Kozhikode medical college, according to the state health department.

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, visited the Indian Council of Medical Research – National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) on September 14. She reviewed the containment measures taken in response to the virus outbreak in Kerala.

A multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Mala Chhabra has been deployed by the Union Health Ministry to assist the state in implementing public health measures to address the outbreak.

High-level teams from the Centre and ICMR-NIV, equipped with mobile units featuring BSL-3 (Biosafety Level 3) laboratories, have arrived in Kozhikode for on-ground testing.

Containment zones have been declared in nine panchayats, and new restrictions have been imposed in Kozhikode district. These measures include directives against gatherings or public events of any kind, including religious gatherings, within the containment zones.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nipah virus is transmitted by fruit bats and can be potentially fatal to both humans and animals. Alongside respiratory symptoms, it is known to cause fever, muscle pain, headaches, dizziness, and nausea.

Kerala previously experienced a Nipah virus outbreak in the Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in 2018, and in 2021, a Nipah virus case was reported in Kozhikode.

Share55Tweet34Send
NRI Affairs News Desk

NRI Affairs News Desk

Related Posts

Over 90,000 Indian Students Secure US Visas in Summer 2023
News

Over 90,000 Indian Students Secure US Visas in Summer 2023

September 26, 2023
Indian-Origin 8-Year-Old Marks UK's 1st Drug-Free Transplant
News

Indian-Origin 8-Year-Old Marks UK’s 1st Drug-Free Transplant

September 25, 2023
Indian-Origin Author Chetna Maroo's Debut Novel, 'Western Lane' Makes 2023 Booker Prize Shortlist
Literature

Indian-Origin Author Chetna Maroo’s Debut Novel, ‘Western Lane’ Makes 2023 Booker Prize Shortlist

September 23, 2023
Next Post
From Deewana to the success of Pathaan: the global impact of Bollywood’s enduring king, Shah Rukh Khan

From Deewana to the success of Pathaan: the global impact of Bollywood’s enduring king, Shah Rukh Khan

US Sees Surge in Immigration with India & China as Leading Nationalities

US Sees Surge in Immigration with India & China as Leading Nationalities

Queensland Temple vandalism investigation raises Hindu involvement concerns

Queensland Temple vandalism investigation raises Hindu involvement concerns

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

US visa application can now be submitted using Dropbox

US visa application can now be submitted using Dropbox

8 months ago
Indian-origin man defrauds Football Association of Singapore

Indian-origin man defrauds Football Association of Singapore, sentenced 4 months jail

10 months ago
lockdown

Hard border closure has left pregnant Melbourne couple apart and desperate

2 years ago
jood 1

Opinion: Justice IS being served for Vishal Jood

2 years ago

Categories

  • Literature
  • Multimedia
  • News
  • nriaffairs
  • Other
  • People
  • Top Stories
  • Uncategorized
  • Views
  • Visa

Topics

Air India Australia california Canada caste COVID COVID-19 cricket ECTA Europe free trade FTA Germany h1b visa Hindu immigration India india-australia Indian Indian-American Indian-origin Indian Students Khalistan London Melbourne ministry of external affairs Modi New Zealand NRI NSW oci quarantine Queensland Singapore Sydney travel UAE uk Ukraine US USA us visa Victoria visa women
NRI Affairs

© 2021 NRI Affairs.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Visa
  • Other

© 2021 NRI Affairs.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT