Fever samples sent for testing, no need for Nipah panic says Ernakulam Collector

The sample has been sent for examination to two Virology Institutes, and the 23-year old patient has been admitted to an isolated ward.
Fever samples sent for testing, no need for Nipah panic says Ernakulam Collector
Fever samples sent for testing, no need for Nipah panic says Ernakulam Collector
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The blood samples of a 23-year-old student from Vadakkekara in Ernakulam have been sent for tests after he was admitted to a private hospital in the district and exhibited some symptoms of Nipah. The District Collector has said that this is a routine procedure and that there's no need for panic around Nipah. This comes a year after the state has recovered from the outbreak of Nipah virus, one of the most alarming incidents in the state. 

Referring to some news reports about a confirmed case if Nipah in the district, Ernakulam Collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla said in a press release, "It is untrue, Nipah has not been confirmed in any patient admitted to any private medical hospital in Ernakulam. It is routine for samples to be sent for testing if a patient is admitted with fever and other symptoms. There is no need to panic."

"If Nipah is confirmed bythe tests, the district administration will officially confirm it and take necessary action," he added. According to the authorities, the sample has been sent to the Manipal Institute of Virology, and to the Kerala State Institute of Virology and Infectious Diseases (KSIVID) in Alappuzha on Sunday and they are awaiting the results. 

The student had gone for an internship in a firm in another district and had fever when he came back, according to reports.

What are the symptoms of Nipah?

The symptoms of Nipah are usually visible after the incubation period of the virus which lasts from 5 to 14 days. Initial symptoms are fever, headache, and general muscle pain. In some cases, they may become more severe, some patients are known to have complained of blurred vision, stomach, and vomiting. If the infection is particularly aggressive, there is a high chance the person may develop encephalitis. 

In May 2018, a Nipah virus outbreak in the state claimed 17 lives. It started with the death of three members of a family in Kozhikode, who had exhibited similar symptoms: fever, headache and respiratory issues.

Though the government had acted quickly to contain the spread of the infection and the way the outbreak was handled was widely appreciated, Nipah still remains as something that can make people panic.

Life came to a standstill in Kozhikode and neighbouring areas after the outbreak, during which the state required consistent vigilance to get back to normalcy.

The government had even issued a travel advisory against travelling to parts of the state to prevent the transmission of the virus. 

Note: The samples have been sent for testing, and officials are waiting for confirmation.

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