Kerala, India – Health experts in Kerala, India, are racing against time to combat the fourth outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus since 2018. With no vaccine available, the state is mobilizing efforts to contain the virus, which can be transmitted through contact with infected bats, pigs, or humans, and carries a mortality rate of up to 75%.
Currently, two fatalities and three additional cases have been reported, prompting heightened vigilance. Experts are collecting fluid samples from bats and fruit trees in the affected region to pinpoint potential hotspots. Maruthonkara, the village where the first victim resided, is of particular concern, given that fruit bats from the area tested positive for the virus during the 2018 outbreak.
Public offices, government buildings, schools, and religious institutions in nine villages have been temporarily closed, with public transport suspended in the affected area. Neighboring states are conducting tests for visitors from Kerala and have plans in place to isolate individuals displaying influenza symptoms.
Nipah virus, first identified in 1999, poses a serious threat due to its sporadic outbreaks and potential animal hosts. Kerala’s previous outbreaks in 2018, 2019, and 2021 resulted in fatalities, emphasizing the urgency of the current situation. This resurgence underscores the global risk of bat viruses as development encroaches on natural habitats, bringing humans and wildlife into closer contact.
