KOZHIKODE: With no deaths or new cases due to Nipah infection being reported on Monday, the district is limping back to normal. The authorities have decided to form a multi-disciplinary team to trace the disease’s source.
Scientist Dr P Suganan of Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR) Port Blair, who is here with a team from the National Institute of Epidemiology, promised not to spare any means to trace the source of the disease.
“We have decided to constitute a multi-disciplinary team with experts from various departments. It is a very complex case,” he said, adding that the team members have already been identified and the team will be formed soon.The team has collected two more rabbits from Perambra and sent them to the National Institute of Epidemiology in Chennai. Responding to this, Sugunan said earlier they had only taken one rabbit.
“There were two more. Also, we had earlier taken only samples from the animals. Now, we have taken the animals to the institution so that the scientists could examine the creature in detail. We do not want to spare any chances,” he added.Jai Karan, a member of the Central Animal Husbandry team, said they are trying their best to trace the source. “We do not want to rule out any possibility and we are conducting a detailed study,” he said, adding that the possibility of a human carrier is also possible.
Meanwhile, five patients were admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH) on Monday and they are under observation. With this, the total number of patients under observation at the MCH as on Monday is 24.Director of Health Services Dr R L Saritha said 18 test results were availed on Monday and all were negative. With this, the total number of test results availed have become 240, of which 222 are negative. The death toll due to Nipah infection remains unchanged at 18.
Discharge of two patients
Dr Saritha said that an expert panel is holding discussions on when to discharge the two patients who have recovered from the infection. “They have recovered. Now, they are showing negative results for Nipah tests. But we are yet to decide when to discharge them. We will only confirm it after holding further discussions with experts,” she said.
MCH principal Dr V R Rajendran said a visiting Indian Council of Medical Research team has finalised how to administer monoclonal antibody — a remedy for the infection — developed in Australia.
“But it will only be administered to those who test positive. Now, we have no cases. Hence, it won’t administered,” he said.
Govt to supply ration
District Collector U V Jose said the government has decided to supply a ration kit to the families those mentioned in the contact list. According to latest data, there are 2,377 people in the contact list. The ration kit will include 10 kg rice and other essentials needed for two weeks.“The ration is supplied through Supplyco. It will be delivered to each family by Tuesday evening,” he said.