Nipah patient in Kerala declared virus-free, recovering says Health Minister
Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Friday confirmed that the state's sole Nipah virus patient in Malappuram district has tested negative in two consecutive samples and is now considered virus-free.The 42-year-old woman from Ward 2 of Valanchery municipality, who tested positive for Nipah on May 8, was undergoing treatment at EMS Cooperative Hospital in Perinthalmanna.'The patient has been off ventilator support for the past 12 days and is now breathing independently. Internal organs like the liver and kidneys are also functioning normally. Although the patient has not yet regained full consciousness, brain activity is gradually showing signs of improvement," said Health Minister George in an official statement.advertisement
According to the hospital's intensive care team the MRI scans of the patient are showing healing in areas previously damaged by the virus. Subtle responses to pain and movements in the eyes and jaw have also been noted.Doctors were hopeful the patient could be discharged in the coming weeks with full physical and mental recovery, George said.The minister said that the incubation period for the virus has now passed without any new cases being reported. However, support services and helplines will continue for a few more days as a precaution.The patient continues to be under close observation by a full critical care team at the EMS Cooperative hospital.Minister George emphasised that the patient received advanced treatment, including Remdesivir and monoclonal antibodies provided by the Indian Council of Medical Research. "When Nipah first struck Kerala, the fatality rate exceeded 90 per cent. However, since 2021 with use of antiviral drugs and monoclonal antibody treatment, the rate has dropped, falling to 33 per cent in 2023," she said.Written by Debosmita Maity Must Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Covid-19 cases in India: 203 new cases, 4 deaths reported in last 24 hours
India registered 203 new Covid-19 patients in the last 24 hours, with the total number of cases reaching 3,961 in the latest coronavirus outbreak, showed health ministry data on Monday. The disease that brought the world to a standstill in 2020 claimed four more lives, one each in Delhi, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, with the toll reaching 32 since 1 January 2025. Kerala (1,435), Maharashtra (506), Delhi (483), Gujarat (338), and West Bengal (331) have reported the most number of cases so far. This fresh wave has been caused by two new coronavirus variants, NB.1.8.1 and LF.7, mutations of the Omicron offspring JN.1 variant. Both were found in India. The positivity rate stands at approximately 64.08%. A high positivity rate suggests higher transmission and that there are likely more people with coronavirus in the community who haven't been tested yet. Dr Vikas Maurya, head of the pulmonary department at Fortis Healthcare, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, said they were largely seeing Covid-19 patients with mild infection, taking a maximum of one week to recover. 'Right now, every second person who has symptoms like cough, cold, fever and sore throat should get themselves tested for covid-19 and use a mask and isolate themselves.' He said most patients are inquiring about the Covid-19 vaccine. However, due to its unavailability, people who are willing to take the vaccine are not able to get the shot. 'The vaccine should be there, and it should be made voluntary for those who wish to take it.' Recently, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former director of the Indian Council of Medical Research and ex-chief scientist at the World Health Organisation, urged pharma companies to ensure that they can create a vaccine for the latest coronavirus variant. The health ministry's Covid-19 dashboard revealed that at least 370 patients recovered from the infection or got discharged in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of active cases to 2,188. A senior government scientist involved in the monitoring of the infection said the disease is not going to make a major impact on the population this time. 'We have all the tools to monitor Covid-19. The government has increased the testing capacity; it's doing the sentinel surveillance to target the select population in a specific location. The infection is mild, so there is nothing to worry.'
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
203 fresh cases take India's Covid tally past 3,900-mark; 4 deaths reported
India's active Covid-19 caseload has surged to 3,961, with 203 new infections and four deaths reported in the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's (MoHFW's) latest update on Monday at 8.00 am. Kerala, currently the worst-hit state, accounts for 1,435 active cases, followed by Maharashtra (506), Delhi (483), Gujarat (338), and West Bengal (331). Other states with rising numbers include Karnataka (253), Tamil Nadu (189), Uttar Pradesh (157), and Rajasthan (69). Covid-19 cases surge sharply The spike has been sharp. From 257 active cases on May 22, the count jumped to 1,010 by May 26, and then more than tripled to 3,961 by Monday (June 2). Covid-19 regional case updates The four fatalities included one each from Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra. The deceased from Delhi was identified as a '22-year-old female with old treated pulmonary Koch's/ post tuberculosis lung disease/ Bilateral lower respiratory tract infection.' From Tamil Nadu, a 25-year-old male with bronchial asthma and severe acute tubular injury and an incidental Covid positive status succumbed to the infection, according to MoHFW. In Maharashtra, a 44-year-old male suffered from severe acute respiratory distress syndrome with dilated aortic regurgitation and was Covid-19 positive. The details of the death in Kerala are still awaited. Of the new cases, West Bengal reported 44 infections, followed by Delhi with 47, Kerala with 35, Maharashtra with 21, and Gujarat with 18 cases, the data showed. According to data, 370 people have been discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours. States ramp up preparedness To counter this surge, several states and UTs have come out with advisories asking both government and private hospitals to ensure preparedness in terms of beds, oxygen, antibiotics, and other drugs. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the genome sequencing of samples from the western and southern regions has indicated that the current rise is driven by subvariants of Omicron, which so far appear to be mild in nature. People urged to remain calm Officials have urged the public not to panic, noting that most cases remain mild. The four subvariants identified are LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1, with the first three being more prevalent.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
No 2020-Like Repeat Of Covid-19, Influenza A Bigger Risk: Ex-WHO Scientist Soumya Swaminathan
Last Updated: Addressing fears of another catastrophic wave, Swaminathan said periodic surges—roughly every 6-8 months—are expected, largely manageable, and low in severity Influenza, and not Covid-19, likely claims more lives each year in India and globally despite the latter dominating headlines, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO), has told News18. One of the leading experts on infectious diseases, Swaminathan has reassured the public that there is 'absolutely no need to panic now". In an exclusive interview, Swaminathan told News18 that the SARS coronavirus, much like influenza, is now part of the respiratory viruses regularly circulating in the population. ' COVID or SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus, is another respiratory virus, like the many others that are circulating amongst us human beings in the world today. It has been around for five years now. It's, of course, constantly mutating and changing, like other viruses," she said. When asked whether there's a possibility of another 'Delta-like' wave making a return, she said the public needs to understand 'very clearly" that 'we will not see the repeat of 2020 or 2021. At that time, human beings had never seen this virus before". According to her, these periodic surges—roughly every 6-8 months—are expected and largely manageable. 'We have also now started seeing that periodically…There is a rise in circulating Covid-19 cases," she noted, citing data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which indicates that the Omicron variant JN.1 has recently become the dominant strain. Swaminathan, before her ground-breaking role at WHO, was the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and secretary of the Department of Health Research in India. She, however, says that despite the increase in cases, the severity remains low. 'What you're seeing now is a mild disease mostly. Even though people are testing and reporting positivity, you find that hospitalisations are rare," she said. Swaminathan highlighted that individuals with underlying health conditions should continue to take precautions. 'People who have underlying illnesses… are likely to get a little sicker when they get a respiratory infection," she warned, adding that this applies to both Covid-19 and influenza. The flu virus may pose a greater threat than Covid-19. 'Influenza probably kills a lot more people in India and around the world… it makes a lot of sense for vulnerable people to take the flu vaccine, which gets updated every year." Addressing fears of another catastrophic wave, she assured the public: 'It will not happen that we will have a repeat of 2020 or 2021… Today, the virus cannot spread in the same way because it is met with a strong immune response." Do we need booster shots or updated vaccines? According to Swaminathan, there is a need to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of updating vaccines, especially in countries like India. 'We see that illness is mild, not requiring hospitalisation… There doesn't seem to be any reason to start a booster campaign now," she said, although she acknowledged the importance of preparing for potential future variants through continued research and updated vaccine development. She also outlined five key areas for pandemic preparedness. 'We need new legislation today that will cover biological threats like pandemics," she said, adding that 'India should have its own list of priority pathogens… and mechanisms for developing vaccines and therapeutics". Also, she said: 'Every state must have a public health cadre… It's essential to deal with so many health risks today, along with the improvement of health literacy and public engagement, which is critical." What should you do? 'Let's take sensible precautions… I see people travelling in crowded buses, trains, and planes, coughing and sneezing without a mask—that's just spreading infection." As for concerns about waning immunity, she explained, 'There are two kinds of immunity… antibodies, which decline over time, and T-cells, which have memory. The moment you are exposed again to the same virus… your immune system does its job." She emphasised that Covid-19 is now an endemic part of life. While vigilance and preparedness are necessary, panic is not. 'We can rest assured now… I would say, let's take sensible precautions… but there's no need for any panic." Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
