Thiruvananthapuram: The state of alert against Nipah virus (NiV) that took 17 lives in Kozhikode will continue till June end. Replying to an adjournment motion by M. K. Muneer of the IUML in the assembly here on Tuesday, health minister K. K. Shylaja said the continued vigil was needed because the incubation period of the virus was between two weeks and 20 days. She said chances of another phase of the outbreak were very remote. The human monoclonal antibody procured from Australia to treat the ailment, m-102.4, was available with the state government now.
Ms Shailaja also denied the allegation that there was a time lag in identifying the deadly virus. Even the WHO has congratulated the state for identifying the disease at the second death itself which is very rare. She informed the house that the government arrested 12 persons for spreading panic on the social media.
It was not the time for panic but for being vigilant. The vigil on the part of doctors was the reason to limit the casualty to 17, Ms Shailaja said. The health minister also congratulated Dr Anoop Kumar and Dr Jayakrishnan of the Baby Memorial Hospital in Kozhikode who identified the infection as Nipah. The doctors who felt that they are dealing with an unusual situation, collected body fluid samples of the patients admitted there and sent to Manipal Centre for Virus Research.
Experts in Manipal including Dr Arunkumar, who heads the Manipal Centre for Virus Research (MCVR) under Manipal Academy of Higher Education in Karnataka, confirmed by May 18 that the infection was Nipah. She also congratulated health services director Dr Sarita R.L., additional director Reena K.J. and doctors, the staff of Kozhikode Medical College and Perambra Taluk Hospital and health inspector of the Kozhikode Corporation Mr Gopan for their services. Speaker P. Sreeramakrishan permitted the adjournment motion after the health minister said she was willing for discussions. That was the first permission for adjournment motion since this government came to power.
