Nipah Virus Deaths: Two people in Kerala’s Kozhikode district died after being infected by the Nipah virus while two out of four suspected have been found to be positive for the infection.
Photo of a medical college after the Nipah virus alert, in Kozhikode, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. ( Image Source : PTI )
Nipah Virus Deaths: The Kerala government confirmed on Tuesday that two unnatural fatalities in Kozhikode district were caused by the Nipah virus infection amid concerns about the resurgence of the deadly pathogen. The southern state is on alert as two cases of Nipah virus have been confirmed among four individuals whose saliva was sent for testing at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed the cases via a Facebook post.
He revealed that two individuals tested positive for Nipah, while the other two received negative results.
In response, he urged the public to remain calm and focus on precautionary measures.
“Everyone should strictly follow the instructions of the health department and the police and fully cooperate with the restrictions,” said Chief Minister Vijayan, emphasising the importance of adherence to health guidelines.
On Thursday, Karnataka Health Minister Gundu Rao reviewed the measures taken by Bengaluru’s civic body to contain the spread of dengue.
Over 3,200 dengue cases have been reported in Bengaluru in the past two months (Representational)
Bengaluru: Amid a surge in dengue cases in Bengaluru, Karnataka Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao Friday launched a disease surveillance dashboard and a mobile application for effective monitoring and curbing of the vector-borne disease.
The dashboard, a disease forecasting software, has been developed in partnership with the Department of Health, Bengaluru municipal corporation — Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) — and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics Technology Park (ARTPARK ) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to assist policymakers and public health officials in preparing for outbreaks and managing disease control activities.
According to officials, the dashboard uses Artificial Intelligence, or AI, to predict a surge in infections four weeks in advance. It provides a map of outbreaks across Karnataka at the district and sub-district levels along with case trends across years.
A four-week predictive risk map of outbreaks will also be made available to state and district officers. In addition to predictions, data from multiple sources is being standardised and streamlined for improved analysis.
Both the dashboard and mobile app are focused on dengue, to begin with, and the aim is to expand to additional diseases in the future, the officials said.
On Thursday, the health minister along with officials reviewed the measures taken by the BBMP to contain the spread of dengue.
More than 3,200 dengue cases have been reported in Bengaluru in the past two months, said the minister who has directed the civic body to intensify their efforts to control the spread of the virus.
According to him, 1,649 and 1,590 dengue cases were detected in July and August, respectively. As many as 416 cases have come to light in September so far.
The cases are on the rise because of stagnant rain waters, Mr Rao said on Thursday. He added that pesticides are being sprayed in Bengaluru to get rid of mosquitoes, which carry the virus.
According to the information received from the Health Department, Dehradun has the maximum number of four-hundred and eighteen (418) dengue patients while the toll in the entire state stands at six hundred (600)
Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Dehradun districts of the state are the most affected by dengue. File (For Representational purpose only) | Photo Credit: ANI
After nature’s havoc in Uttarakhand, dengue cases are now creating fear among the people as the state has crossed six hundred cases of the mosquito-borne viral disease.
According to the information received from the Health Department, Dehradun has the maximum number of four-hundred and eighteen (418) dengue patients while the toll in the entire state stands at six hundred (600).
Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Dehradun districts of the state are the most affected by dengue. In the aftermath of recent heavy monsoon floods that inundated parts of Uttarakhand, health officials are grappling with a significant surge in dengue cases.
Dengue (break-bone fever) is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people.Waterlogging in areas due to incessant rains has caused a preferable environment for Aedes mosquitoes to breed. These mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses.
The most recent data from WHO highlights China’s emergence as a major concern. In the last three months alone, China has documented 315 confirmed mpox cases.
Image: AP
In recent months, China has been grappling with a surge in cases of mpox, a disease previously known as monkeypox, earning the unenviable title of the world’s fastest-growing outbreak, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO). The agency is urging swift action from China to curb the spread of the disease.
While parts of the Americas and Europe have managed to rein in the mpox outbreak, Asia has become a new hotspot for the disease. The origins of this outbreak can be traced back to mid-2022. Countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Thailand experienced sporadic cases last year. However, this year has witnessed a notable upswing, with these nations reporting double-digit cases on a weekly basis.
WHO suggests China is a major concern
The most recent data from WHO highlights China’s emergence as a major concern. In the last three months alone, China has documented 315 confirmed mpox cases. The accuracy of these numbers is challenged by inconsistencies in reporting from the Chinese government, making it challenging to fully comprehend the true scale of the outbreak within the country.
In efforts to contain mpox, various nations have employed different strategies. While the disease is less contagious than Covid-19, its impact has been felt globally, affecting thousands. One key factor in controlling mpox has been proactive measures like vaccination. However, in China, questions have arisen about the efficacy of the government’s actions in tackling the outbreak, as some experts argue that more could be done.
According to a report from South China Morning Post, Hong Kong, too, has witnessed a surge in mpox cases, believed to be a delayed result of the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions. Experts caution that this trend might lead to more infections spilling over from mainland China, which has recently seen a significant rise in cases. While the overall threat to the general population remains relatively low, concerns are arising over the necessity of hospital isolation for mpox patients, especially those with mild symptoms.
