Text Credits: Raveena Nair

Kerala is under red alert due to the outbreak of Nipah Virus (NiV). The death rates are increasing day by day and most of it is being reported from the districts of Kozhikode and Malappuram. Lini Puthussery, a nurse at Perambra Taluk Hospital lost her life on Monday, after being infected by the deadly Nipah Virus. It is being reported that she was exposed to the virus while attending the three infected patients at the hospital.

Lini did not even get a chance to bid goodbye to her family, so she left a note for her husband while she was in ICU. Her body was cremated immediately after her death in order to prevent the spread of the virus. The note she left for him read, “I think I am almost on my way. I may not be able to see you again. Take care of our kids. Lots of love…”. Her family consists of  her two sons, Rithul (5) and Sidharth (2) and her husband Sajeesh, who is working in Bahrain as an accountant.

Image Source: allnews.ezyro.com

Lini was a daily wage nurse at the Perambra Taluk hospital. She developed fever on Thursday and was admitted in medical hospital where she requested to be kept in an isolated ward as she suspected it to be the infection due to NiV. Her cremation was done at an electrical crematorium by the health department even before her family could pay their last tribute. The family did not have any complaints regarding not being able to receive her body. Great difficulties were faced to transport her body to the crematorium as due to the fear of spread of the virus, many ambulance drivers refused to come, even though they were assured that they didn’t have to touch the body. Later, police help had to be used for the transportation. The blood sample of her near ones are being collected and tested to check for the presence of the virus.

Three more nurses from the same hospital have been reported to be admitted in Medical College with high fever and other symptoms. They have also been attending patients affected with NiV. This incident raises questions on the safety of the medical team attending the patients. Currently, the doctors at Calicut Medical College are attending the casualties by wearing personal protection equipment. But it raises the question about the safety of other staff like daily wage nurses.

Image Source: indianexpress.com

This is the second time Nipah Virus is hitting India without a warning. The first outbreak was reported in West Bengal in 2001, claiming many lives. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO),  this virus was first identified during an outbreak that took place in Malaysia in 1998. Both animal-to-human and human-to-human transmission have been documented.  Fruit bat is host to this virus and no vaccination to protect from this virus is available. Hence prevention is the only way to stay way from this virus.

How to prevent NiV?

• Do not eat fruits fallen from trees and bitten by birds and other animals
• Wash hands properly, maintain personal hygiene and use mask
• Do not drink sap of raw date palms and avoid drinking toddy
• Avoid interaction with infected person.

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