KOZHIKODE: The Health Department has declared Kozhikode and Malappuram districts as free of Nipah after no new cases were reported since May 31 and the incubation period of the virus was over on June 30. Health Minister K K Shylaja made the announcement at a function held by the department here on Sunday to pay tributes to the heroes who waged the battle against the deadly Nipah virus.
“For the past two months, Kozhikode district has been gripped by the fear of Nipah. The Health Department has contained the infection through coordinated efforts. We lost 16 valuable lives in the battle. We brought two people who were infected back to life. It is a relief that no new cases have been reported since May 30. In such a situation, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts are being temporarily declared as free of Nipah infection,” the minister read out the declaration statement at the event.
The Health Department felicitated Kozhikode Collector U V Jose, Malappuram Collector Amit Meena, late nurse Lini Puthussery’s husband Sajeesh, Dr Anoop Kumar of Baby Memorial Hospital, Kozhikode Corporation health officer Dr Gopakumar, virologist Dr G Arunkumar, department staff and police personnel at the function.
Shylaja presented the B C Roy Award to doctors as part of National Doctors’ Day celebrations at the same function.
“The preventive measures that the state followed to contain the Nipah virus will be a model for the world,” said Rajeev Sadanandan, additional chief secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare.
Sadanandan cautioned that there is a chance of Nipah virus reappearing in Kerala. “However, the state will be ready to face the situation. The Health Department will conduct more studies on the infection,” he said.
The Health Department has learned lessons on how Nipah patients should be treated and the lessons will be a model for the world, he said.
“The monoclonal antibody brought from Australia was not tested in human beings anywhere in the world before the Kozhikode case. The confirmation of the antibody’s effectiveness will be done soon. More studies will be conducted on the antibody with the help of the Indian Council of Medical Research,” he said.