The ICMR said it plans to work on a vaccine against Nipah virus disease.
New Delhi:
The mortality rate among those infected with Nipah virus is much higher compared to those infected with Covid, Dr Rajiv Bahl, chief of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said on Friday.
According to Dr Bahl, the Nipah virus has a mortality rate of between 40 and 70 percent, compared to Covid’s 2 to 3 percent.
A new case of Nipah virus was confirmed in Kozhikode in Kerala yesterday, taking the total number of infected people in the state to six. Two of the previous cases were fatal.
Amid the rise in cases in Kerala, India has called on Australia to supply 20 additional doses of monoclonal antibody to treat Nipah virus infections
The ICMR said in view of the recurring outbreaks of Nipah virus in the southern state and its high mortality rate compared to Covid, it plans to start working on developing a vaccine against the viral disease.
“We received some doses of monoclonal antibody from Australia in 2018. Currently, the doses are available for only 10 patients,” Dr.Bahl said as quoted by news agency PTI.
Dr. Bahl said 14 people who contracted Nipah virus outside India have fully recovered after treatment with monoclonal antibodies.
“Only a phase 1 trial has been done to determine the safety of the drug. No efficacy studies have been done. It can only be given as a compassionate use drug,” he said.
In view of the rising cases, all educational institutions in Kozhikode will be closed for a week from today.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George said on Friday that the contact list of Nipah virus patients in Kerala has grown to 1,080. Of these, 327 are healthcare workers.
