Kerala to study population sample to find cause of repeated Nipah outbreaks

Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, has announced that the state will initiate a seroprevalence investigation regarding the recurring occurrences of the Nipah virus in the Kozhikode district.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), these population-based seroprevalence surveys are essential for estimating the infection rate and immunity levels within a community, which aids in understanding the disease’s impact, transmission patterns, and associated risk factors.

The Chief Minister expressed concerns about the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) not providing a clear explanation for the persistent Nipah virus outbreaks in Kozhikode.

“So the state has decided to conduct a sero survey. Have asked the health department to prepare a detailed proposal for this,” CM Vijayan said in a media briefing in Thiruvananthapuram.

“It cannot be said that the Nipah threat has gone away. It is a relief that the disease has not spread to more people. The government is going ahead with effective measures to prevent the spread and ensure better treatment for those infected. The entire health system of the state is involved in this initiative with utmost caution,” he further added.

“A more dangerous situation was avoided because it was detected early. As soon as the abnormal fever was noticed, the government intervened and coordinated preventive measures,” the CM continued.

He also revealed that a Nipah action plan was drawn up and a Nipah Core Committee comprising 19 teams was formed.