Nipah virus case confirmed in Kerala’s Malappuram district
Malappuram (Kerala), May 8 (PTI): A case of Nipah virus has been confirmed in Kerala’s Malappuram district, health officials said on Thursday.
State Health Minister Veena George said the infection was found in a 42-year-old woman from Ward 2 of Valanchery municipality.
She is currently being treated at a hospital in Perinthalmanna.
The woman first visited a private clinic on April 25 with a fever. On May 1, she was admitted to the hospital after her doctor advised further treatment.
Initial tests in the state pointed to Nipah, and this was later confirmed by the virology lab in Pune.
Twenty-one samples from seven people who had close contact with the patient, including family members, have all tested negative for the virus, according to the Minister.
After the case was confirmed, George visited the district on Thursday and held a high-level meeting at the Collectorate to assess the situation and give necessary instructions. The doctor treating the patient also joined the meeting online, an official release said here.
The state medical board has recommended giving the patient monoclonal antibodies as part of her treatment.
This will be done once the hospital's ethics committee gives its approval.
Although the patient is expected to remain at her current hospital, officials said she may be moved to Manjeri Medical College if her family requests it, the release said.
The area within a three-kilometre radius of her home will be declared a containment zone.
A special order will be issued by the District Collector under the Public Health and Disaster Management Acts.
Restrictions will mainly apply in Valanchery municipality and the nearby Marakkara and Edappal panchayats.
As part of Nipah control measures, 25 special teams have been formed and are already working to trace people who may have come into contact with the patient.
Although the risk of further spread is believed to be low, thorough screening will be carried out, the release said.
All contacts--both high-risk and low-risk--will be kept under observation for 21 days.
The Health Department has made sure that essential medicines are available. Investigations are also underway to find the source of the infection.
A dead cat was found in the area, and the Animal Husbandry Department will test samples to see if it is linked to the case.
Health teams will carry out fever surveys in Valanchery and nearby panchayats, it said.
Hospitals have been instructed to strictly follow infection control protocols.
In light of the situation, the minister urged the public to remain alert.
The Minister asked people to wear masks, use hand sanitiser, and avoid unnecessary visits to hospitals.
At the ongoing "Ente Keralam" exhibition in Kottakkunnu, which marks the state government's fourth anniversary, wearing masks and using sanitiser has now been made compulsory, the release added.
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EAM Jaishankar meets Jamaican PM, gifts over 10 BHISHM Cubes
Kingston (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and discussed ways to further deepen "political, economic and people-to-people cooperation."
Jaishankar also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Holness.
"Pleased to call on Prime Minister @AndrewHolnessJM in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi," Jaishankar posted on X.
"Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations," the post further read.
Also, the external affairs minister handed over 10 BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes as a gift to Jamaica.
"Formally handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica, in the presence of PM @AndrewHolnessJM, Health Minister @christufton and FM @kaminajsmith," Jaishankar posted on X.
"The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation," the post said.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India's strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
Earlier in the day, he interacted with the Indian diaspora and discussed India's ongoing transformation in infrastructure, human development and technology-driven governance and entrepreneurship with them.
He also highlighted the cricket bond between both countries as India gifted a scoreboard to Jamaica.
A scoreboard was dedicated at Sabina Park in Kingston. It is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the Caribbean island nation.
The minister expressed hope that the new scoreboard would witness many memorable innings, including those symbolising the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.
Jamaican players, including Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding, have played a major role in shaping the legacy of West Indies cricket in the international arena, contributing to its dominance in earlier decades and its continued global appeal.
