Lok Sabha Question No. 18 (STARRED), answered on 2019-06-21
Subject: Review of Nipah Virus Outbreak in Kerala
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Adoor Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 18 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 ST JUNE , 2019 REVIEW OF NIPAH VIRU S OUTBREAK IN KERALA

## *18. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH: SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will  the  Minister  of  HEALTH  AND  FAMILY  WELFARE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government has reviewed the outbreak of Nipah Virus in Keral so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  by  Government  against  Nipah attack in Ker ala;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  any  statistics  regarding  the  number  of  de occurred due to Nipah in Kerala, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  a  study  or  planning  to  appoint special team to study about the Ni pah outbreak in Kerala and its origin, if so, t details thereof; and
- (d) the details of the findings of the Central team which visited the State?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) to ( d):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 18* FOR 21 ST JUNE , 2019

(a) to (d): Yes,in the first week of June, 2019 outbreak of Nipah viru disease  has  been  reported  from  Kerala.  Immediately,  the  Union  Health Family  Welfare  Minister  took  a  review  meeting  and  a  Multi - disciplinary Central  teams  consisting  of  experts  from  the  National  Cen tre  for  Disease Control  (NCDC),  All  India  Institute  of  Medical  Sciences  (AIIMS)  and  t Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research  (ICMR)  was  deployed  in  the  affecte district to assist and guide the State health authorities. The team is s the State in in vestigations, contact tracing, sample testing and management the  Nipah  Virus  Disease  (NiVD).  Point  of  Care  Test  facility  has  b established  by  the  National  Institute  of  Virology  (NIV),  Pune  at  Med College Ernakulum. Experts from National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases  (NIHSAD),  Bhopal  were  also  involved  with  the  local  Animal Husbandry Department in investigation.

NIV, Pune deputed special teams to collect samples from Pteropus or fruit which  are  the  main  reservoir  for  Nipah  viru s  disease.    Out  of  36  Pteropus species  bats  tested  for  Nipah,  12(33%)  were  found  to  be  positive  for 'anti Nipah bat I gG antibodies'

Strategic Health Operation Centre (SHOC) at NCDC has been activated sinc 4 th June,  2019  and  is  coordinating  with  field  tea ms  on  surveillance  and response  activities  for  Nipah  containment.  A  dedicated  phone - line  has  been established at SHOC to answer queries of general public. Further, specific case definition, contact tracing and treatment & clinical management protocol been provided to State authorities of Kerala . D etails of findings of the central team during 2019 Nipah outbreak in Ernakulum, Kerala is as follows:

- i. Single confirmed case of NiVD has been reported from Ernakulum distric of Kerala on 3 rd June 2019.
- ii. A total of 50 suspects were identified and all of them tested negati Nipah.
- iii. A total of 330 contacts are being followed up on daily basis.
- iv. No new case has been reported.
- v. During the year 2019, so far, no fatality has been reported due to Ni Kerala.