After the outbreak of the Nipah virus in Kerala, India, the authorities have initially given the all-clear. But the government continues to urge caution: it is still unclear whether the virus will continue to spread.
For the sixth day in a row, no new infection with the Nipah virus was reported – Indian media speak of an easing of the situation in Kerala, southern India. The state government has now lifted the exclusion zones it set up in nine municipalities last week.
Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George nevertheless urged caution: people should continue to keep their distance and wear masks. Anyone on the list of 980 contact persons should isolate themselves for another three weeks.
Further checks and tests
The authorities are apparently particularly careful because the Nipah virus may have a long incubation period. The time between infection and the outbreak of the disease is usually between four and fourteen days. In extreme cases, however, it can be up to six weeks. Cases in which the disease only broke out months later have also been documented.
Checks will therefore initially take place at the borders with neighboring states until October 10th to prevent the spread. The state research institute ICMR also approved rapid PCR tests for the Nipah virus this week. Suspected cases can be identified more quickly.
As of last week, a total of six people had been infected with the Nipah virus, two of whom had died. Four others are still in hospital. According to the Ministry of Health, her condition has now stabilized. Among them is a nine-year-old whose father died of the disease.
The virus is particularly rampant in South Asia
The Nipah virus first appeared in Malaysia in 1999. Since then, outbreaks have occurred regularly, especially in Bangladesh and India. In the affected state of Kerala, this is the fourth outbreak in the past five years. According to the science magazine “Nature”, the latest outbreaks show easier transmission from person to person.
The carriers are actually flying foxes, larger relatives of bats, but you can also become infected from contaminated fruit and infected pets. However, the Nipah virus is not as easily transmissible as the coronavirus, so there is no fear of a global pandemic, according to the magazine.
The outbreaks may be becoming more frequent because humans are encroaching further into the flying foxes’ habitats. Frequent contact with people puts the animals under stress. Studies from Australia suggest that flying foxes are more likely to transmit viruses when they are stressed.
To prevent outbreaks, it could help to protect forest areas and create more habitat for wild animals around settlements.