3 KERALA DISTRICTS ON ALERT AFTER DETECTION OF WEST NILE FEVER; THRISSUR NATIVE DIES

The Kerala Health Department has sounded an alert in the districts of Thrissur, Malappuram and Kozhikode following the detection of the vector-borne West Nile fever. The disease claimed a life in Thrissur on Monday and six other confirmed cases were reported in Kozhikode and Malappuram in the last two days.

Health department officials said the death due to West Nile fever was reported at Vadanappally in Thrissur, where a 79-year-old male patient was identified as the victim. Besides, five other suspected cases of the fever, spread by the Culex species of mosquitoes, have also been reported.

Also Read | Explained: What is the West Nile Virus, how does it spread?

Health Minister Veena George said an alert was issued in these districts and directions were given to the health department officials to intensify vector-control measures in association with local self-government bodies. Vector control units in the districts have collected samples as part of intensifying the control measures, she said.

In 2022, Kerala a 47-year-old man succumbed to West Nile fever. The victim, Puthanpurackal Joby, 47, was a native of Panancheri in Thrissur district. In 2019, a boy in Malappuram too died due to the fever.

According to the health department, West Nile virus can cause a fatal neurological disease in humans. However, approximately 80 per cent of those infected will not show any symptoms. It is mainly transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Birds are natural hosts of the West Nile virus.

Human infection is most often the result of bites from infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds and the virus circulates in their blood for a few days, eventually reaching the salivary glands. Mosquito bites then transfer the virus to humans and animals, where it can multiply and possibly cause illness.

In India, West Nile fever was first detected in Kerala in 2011, when 208 cases of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) were reported, and over 40 per cent of those cases were found to be West Nile fever.

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2024-05-07T18:41:49Z dg43tfdfdgfd