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Nipah in Kerala: 5 cases; 700 people on contact list, 77 high-risk | 10 points

Nipah virus prevention: Containment zones have been declared, the route maps of the two deceased have been published for people to avoid.

Nipah containment zone in Kozhikode: The Nipah virus can spread to humans through infected humans, infected animals and fruits. (REUTERS)

A 24-year-old health worker who came into close contact with a Nipah patient tested positive on Wednesday taking the total number of positive cases in the state to five. As the state government has announced containment zones and restrictions to stop the spread of the virus, the contact list of the patients has become a reason for worry as 700 people have come into contact of the patients. Out of these 700, about 77 are in the high-risk category, Kerala health minister Veena George said.

Nipah outbreak in Kerala: Here are the latest updates

1. The high-risk Nipah patients have been asked to remain inside their houses. The routes of the two Nipah patients who died have been published so that people don’t take those routes.

2. In Kozhikode, restrictions have been imposed banning the gathering of a large number of people at festivals, and functions.

3. 58 wards across nine panchayats in Vadakara taluk of Kozhikode district have been declared as containment zones. Essential services and only entry and exit are allowed in these areas. Shops selling essential goods will be allowed to function from 7am to 5pm. No time bar has been given for pharmacies and health centres.

Buses or vehicles plying on national highways through the containment zones should not stop in the affected areas.

4. A nine-year-old boy is suffering from the infection in Kozhikode and the government has ordered monoclonal antibody from ICMR to treat the child. There is no clinical proof that it works against Nipah but this is the only available treatment. The boy is on ventilator support.

5. Around 700 people came into contact of the patients and 76 of them are high risk. The minister said they are all stable.

6. While the outbreak this time took place in Kozhikode, minister Veena George said the entire Kerala is prone to getting such infections according to WHO and ICMR studies.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nipah-in-kerala-5-cases-700-people-on-contact-list-77-high-risk-10-points-101694650826882.html

Pirola Variant Mutating Rapidly, UK Put On Alert After Country Confirms First Case Of New COVID-19 Strain BA.2.86

The National Health Service (NHS) on Thursday warned the people of Britain to be on the lookout for the new Pirola Covid variant amid concerns it might unleash a new wave of illnesses. According to a new World Health Organisation (WHO) risk assessment, a new COVID-19 strain BA.2.86, nicknamed Pirola, is getting more people infected in several parts of the world. As per reports, the first case of BA.2.86 aka Pirola variant was detected through PCR testing from a sample that was collected on August 16.

The virus hasn’t officially been confirmed as a ‘variant of concern’ by the UK’s health watchdog, but it’s caused concern among scientists over its high number of mutations. As per studies, the new variant BA.2.86 has as many changes as Omicron had from the Delta variant of coronavirus.

Source: https://www.thehealthsite.com/news/pirola-variant-mutating-rapidly-uk-put-on-alert-after-country-confirms-first-case-of-new-covid-19-strain-ba-2-86-fourth-wave-new-covid-wave-1005720/

Florida officials report five deaths from ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria in Tampa Bay since January

Vibrio vulnificus infections are rare but can cause severe skin breakdown and ulcers

Five people are confirmed dead in the Tampa Bay area because of a flesh-eating bacterium known to lurk at beaches, Florida officials reported.

According to Florida Health, the vibrio vulnificus bacterium’s natural habitat is in warm, brackish seawater because it requires salt to live. The bacteria typically grow more quickly in warmer months.

Infections are rare, but health officials say those with open wounds, cuts or scrapes should stay out of the water.

Five people have died this year from reported bacterial infections, including two in Hilsborough County and one each in Pasco, Polk and Sarasota counties. There have been 26 reported cases of vibrio vulnificus infections in Florida since January, officials said.

Vibriosis causes an estimated 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths in the United States every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

In 2022, there were 74 total cases and 17 deaths. Those numbers were abnormally high that year because Hurricane Ian spilled sewage into the ocean, increasing bacteria levels.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some Vibrio vulnificus infections lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies. Necrotizing fasciitis can be caused by more than one type of bacteria.

People with open wounds, cuts or scratches can be exposed to the bacterium through direct contact with the mixture of fresh and seawater.

Vibrio vulnificus can cause an infection of the skin which may lead to skin breakdown and ulcers.

Five people in the Tampa Bay area have died from confirmed vibrio vulnificus infections since January, Florida health officials said. (DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)

While anyone can get a Vibrio vulnificus infection, the infections can be more severe for people with weakened immune systems.

The bacterium can invade the bloodstream, causing a severe life-threatening illness with symptoms including fever, chills, decreased blood pressure and blistering skin lesions.

It has the potential to cause severe illness or death; the CDC says about one in five people die sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill.

Vibrio vulnificus can also cause disease in people who eat raw or undercooked oysters and shellfish.

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-officials-report-5-deaths-flesh-eating-bacteria-tampa-bay-january