A deadly virus that has no cure had made 10 fatalities in the Indian state of Kerala, including a nurse that was treating patients infected…
A deadly virus that has no cure had made 10 fatalities in the Indian state of Kerala, including a nurse that was treating patients infected with Nipah/NiV.
The Nipah outbreak has been traced back to a family in the city of Kozhikode, with the first fatality being confirmed on May 19, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced yesterday in a Twitter update on the situation.
From the Kozhikode epicenter, where eight of the casualties were recorded, Nipah spread to the neighboring Malappuram district, while residents from Sindhu and Sijitha were exposed to the virus after a visit to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, states the news outlet.
10 confirmed dead from Nipah virus outbreak in India, including a nurse who was treating patients https://t.co/8WisxXSqGp pic.twitter.com/5PwSA6voo4
— CNN (@CNN) May 22,2018
“Though the virus has been reported only in Kozhikode, a statewide alert has been given to remain vigilant. A 24-hour control room has been opened to monitor the situation,” Vijayan stated in a comment to yesterday’s Twitter post.
Nipah is currently incurable and has no vaccine to protect people from catching the virus. First identified in 1998 during an outbreak in Malaysia that infected almost 300 people and claimed more than 100 lives, Nipah is fatal in 40 to 70 percent of cases.
NiV infection usually begins with mild symptoms, such as “fever and headache, followed by drowsiness, disorientation and mental confusion,” and can escalate to a coma within one or two days, underlines a report from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Rare #Nipah virus leaves 9 dead in #Kerala. The deadly #nipahvirus spreads from #fruitbats to livestock and also to humans. Symptoms include fever, headache, respiratory illness, disorientation,coma and potential death.. There are no vaccines for #NIV.. PLZ be Safe… #NipahVirus pic.twitter.com/3M4ffa4AEL
— CSK™ logesh (@logesh18_Offl) May 21,2018
The Nipah virus can also cause fatal encephalitis, in which the brain becomes inflamed, and is associated with acute respiratory syndrome in the early stages of the infection, notes the CDC.
Among the 10 deaths that resulted from the current Nipah outbreak was 31-year-old nurse Lini Puthussery, who became infected with NiV after treating patients that were brought to a Kerala hospital.
The mother-of-two was immediately quarantined and, being unable to see her family on her deathbed, she left a heartbreaking goodbye note to her husband.
“Saji Chetta, I am almost on my way. I don’t think I will be able to see you. Sorry. Take care of our children properly. Our innocent child, take him to the gulf. They shouldn’t be alone like our father. Lots of love…” reads Puthussery’s moving note, which has been widely circulated on social media.
In a tweet sent out earlier today, Vijayan has offered his condolences to the nurse’s family, saying that her “selfless service will be remembered.”
CM condoled over the demise of Lini, the nurse who died of infection while taking care of Nipah virus affected patients. It is saddening to know that she lost her life while serving others. Her selfless service will be remembered. pic.twitter.com/RaE973xRJ2
— CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) May 22,2018
Dr. Deepu Sebin, chief executive of the DailyRounds network of physicians, also tweeted about Puthussery’s death, conveying his respect for the departed nurse.
“Nurse Lini died in our battle against the Nipah virus. She died trying to save patients infected by it. She was just 31 and was a mother of two little kids. If she is not a martyr, I don’t know who is,” Sebin said in a statement.
