The health department is on alert mode regarding coron and monkeypox. Meanwhile, a major disease has come to the fore, due to which a person has also died in Kerala. The state has reported death due to this disease on Sunday. This disease is ‘West Nile fever’ and due to this only one person has died. The disease had emerged as a fatal event in the recent past. The victim, Puthanpurakkal Jobi (47), is a resident of Panchcheri in Thrissur district.
After the death of the patient, the state health department has issued an alert. Giving information about the patient, the officials said that Jobi developed fever and other symptoms on May 17 and was treated in several hospitals. Two days ago the patient was admitted to the Government Medical College in Thrissur, where doctors confirmed West Nile fever.
Panancheri panchayat president P Raveendran said that two of the victims had developed symptoms of the disease and their blood samples were sent for testing. Let us inform that earlier cases of West Nile fever spread by Culex species of mosquitoes were found in Kerala during 2019.
Dry day declared to destroy mosquitoes
Health department officials said that precautionary measures have been taken in the area to deal with the situation. A dry day has been declared in Panchcheri Panchayat to destroy the breeding grounds of mosquitoes in the residential areas. Apart from this, more samples have been taken to ascertain the spread of the disease.
What is West Nile Virus
It is an infectious disease, which is spread by infectious mosquitoes. The disease is transmitted from birds to humans through the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. It can give rise to deadly disease for humans. It is related to dengue, zika and yellow fever viruses.
how virus spread
West Nile virus can cause fatal neurological disease in humans, according to data from the Department of Health. However, about 80 percent of infected people do not show any symptoms. It is mainly spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes.
What are the symptoms?
People infected with West Nile virus usually have no symptoms or have mild symptoms. Common symptoms include headache, fever, skin rash, body aches and swollen lymph glands. Symptoms of the virus can last from a few days to several weeks and may even go away on their own.
How deadly is this virus?
This virus spreads rapidly among children, old people and people whose immunity is weak. If West Nile virus reaches the brain, it can prove to be dangerous as well as fatal.
What is the treatment?
There is no vaccine for this virus yet. It can go away on its own in a few days with normal fever medicines. However, there is also a risk of escalation, so for protection, avoid mosquito bites.