Nipah antibodies detected in two varieties of bats: Kerala Health Minister


PTI, Sep 29, 2021, 5:52 PM IST

Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Wednesday said antibodies against Nipah virus were found in the samples of two varieties of bats by National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, giving credence to the speculation that bats were the spreaders of the deadly infection.

The minister, speaking to reporters, said NIV Pune had collected samples of various varieties of bats from Kozhikode, where a single instance of Nipah infection was reported this year with the 12-year-old patient succumbing to the virus on September 5.

She said tests of two varieties of the mammal indicated the presence of IgG antibodies against Nipah. The remaining samples were also being tested by the lab and its results would be available soon, the minister added.

The Health department was on high alert since September 4 when the 12-year-old boy was found infected with the Nipah virus.

The three-km-radius from his house was cordoned off and house-to-house surveillance was conducted and samples were tested.

The first Nipah virus disease outbreak in South India was reported from Kozhikode district in Kerala on May 19, 2018 and there were 17 deaths and 18 confirmed cases as of June 1, 2018.

The outbreak was contained and declared over by June 10, 2018.

Thereafter, in June 2019, a new case of Nipah was reported from Kochi and the sole patient was a 23-year-old student, who later recovered.

With this year’s reporting of a case, it is the fifth time the virus has been detected in India and the third in Kerala.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Balasore tragedy result of composite negligence of railway officials: Orissa High Court

Actress Kasthuri stokes controversy by her remarks on Telugu-speaking people in TN

Three convicted for 2016 Kollam collectorate blast case

Expect Canadian government to ensure justice, uphold rule of law: PM Modi

Lone tusker spotted on NH-166 near Karkala, disrupts traffic

Lokayukta police summon Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for questioning in MUDA case on Wednesday

Not ‘kaun banega mukhyamantri’ contest; MVA to name CM pick after polls: Jairam Ramesh

Related Articles More

Risk of abnormal blood fat levels increased by about 30 pc during pandemic, finds study

Attention problems could be ‘middleman’ between genetic risk for, experiencing psychosis: Study

Meeting WHO’s sodium recommendations could avert deaths from heart, kidney disease: Study

Meeting WHO’s sodium recommendations could avert deaths from heart, kidney disease: Study

Study finds loss of smell linked with inflammation in 140 conditions, could be early sign of disease

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Balasore tragedy result of composite negligence of railway officials: Orissa High Court

Actress Kasthuri stokes controversy by her remarks on Telugu-speaking people in TN

Three convicted for 2016 Kollam collectorate blast case

Expect Canadian government to ensure justice, uphold rule of law: PM Modi

Group clash in Indore after argument over bursting firecrackers: NSA slapped against 2 accused

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.