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Dr KK Aggarwal 16 March 2019
Health Ministry takes stock of the public health measures for controlling West Nile Virus
A section of the media has reported that a seven year old boy from Malappuram District of Kerala is suffering from a West Nile Virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne disease, mostly reported in the continental United States.
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare is closely monitoring the situation and has spoken to the State Health Minister of Kerala in this regard. He has directed for all support to be extended to Kerala in its prevention and management.
Secretary (HFW) held a meeting with Additional Chief Secretary Shri Rajeev Sadanandan, Kerala and reviewed the situation. The Health Ministry has dispatched a multi-disciplinary Central team from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The Central team includes Dr. Ruchi Jain, RHO Trivandrum, Dr Suneet Kaur, Assitant Director, NCDC, Dr E Rajendran, Entomologist, NCDC, Calicut and Dr Binoy Basu, EIS Officer, NCDC. The team will support the State Health Authorities in managing the disease.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also been alerted and a close watch is being maintained at Central and State level. There are no reports available so far for spread of this virus in other parts of the country… (Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, March 14, 2019)
Facts about West Nile Virus
o The infection is asymptomatic in 80% of infected persons; in some cases, the infection may lead to West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease (also called neuroinvasive disease, such as West Nile encephalitis or meningitis or West Nile poliomyelitis).
o Symptoms of West Nile fever include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, vomiting, skin rash on the trunk of the body (occasionally) and swollen lymph glands. Most people recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months
o Symptoms of severe disease include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Recovery might take several weeks or months. It is potentially fatal.
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