The virus detected in the state was the same as one found earlier in Bangladesh, which was comparatively less infectious but has a high mortality rate.
A healthcare worker in Kerala, India, has been diagnosed with Nipah fever, bringing the total number of cases in the area to three. The Nipah virus is a zoonotic infection that can be transmitted from animals to humans, with bats being the natural host. Symptoms of the virus can range from mild to severe, including acute respiratory syndrome and encephalitis. There is currently no vaccine available, so treatment involves supportive care.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Wednesday confirmed another case of the Nipah virus, taking the total number of infections in the state to five. A 24-year-old health worker at a private hospital in Kozhikode has been diagnosed with the virus.
In the wake of the Nipah outbreak in this north Kerala district, a holiday has been declared for all educational institutions here on Thursday and Friday.