Following reports of West Nile fever in three districts of Kerala—Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Thrissur—the State Health Department has issued an alert and directed authorities to escalate pre-monsoon cleaning activities.
In a recent high-level meeting of the health department, State Health Minister Veena George instructed the intensification of pre-monsoon cleaning activities. District Medical Officers have also received directives to step up their efforts.
In addition to these measures, the health department was advised to conduct coordinated activities with district administrations and local self-government bodies. Samples were collected from various locations by the District Vector Control Unit and sent for testing, with instructions to enhance awareness activities.
Given that West Nile Fever has been reported in several districts since 2011, the health minister urged anyone experiencing fever or related symptoms to seek immediate treatment.
Kerala reported a death due to West Nile fever two years ago. This fever, transmitted by the Culex species of mosquitoes, had claimed a life in the state in 2019.
The West Nile virus was initially identified in a lady in Uganda’s West Nile district in 1937. It is a virus that is frequently found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and West Asia. The World Health Organisation states that it was discovered in birds in the Nile Delta region in 1953, specifically in crows and Columbiformes.
According to the World Health Organisation, 20% of those who contract WNV will experience the symptoms of West Nile fever, which includes fever, headache, exhaustion, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and, on rare occasions, a skin rash and enlarged lymph nodes.
Severe cases of the disease, known as neuroinvasive disease, such as West Nile encephalitis or meningitis, may manifest with symptoms like headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis, as per the World Health Organization.