Saudi Arabia has imposed restrictions on imports of agricultural products from Kerala and West Bengal, citing concerns related to the Nipah virus, raising alarm among exporters and farmers.
A nurse infected with the Nipah virus has died on Thursday while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Barasat in North 24-Parganas in West Bengal.
The risk of transmission of Nipah virus remains low, and there is no need for any travel or trade restrictions, said the World Health Organisation, noting that it is closely monitoring the deadly virus cases in India.
Eighty-two persons, who came into either direct or indirect contact with a Nipah virus-affected nursing staff member have been quarantined in East Burdwan over the past 24 hours.
Two nurses infected with the deadly Nipah virus continue to remain on ventilatory support, with their condition described as extremely critical, hospital sources said on Tuesday.
The cases were identified on Sunday at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL), ICMR, AIIMS Kalyani, West Bengal.
Kerala has reported two confirmed cases of Nipah virus – one from the Malappuram district and the other from the Palakkad district.
A 42-year old woman from Valanchery in Malappuram district has tested positive for the virus and is currently in critical condition at a hospital in Perinthalmanna.
The recent death of a 24-year-old student in Kerala due to the Nipah virus is a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by zoonotic diseases.
A 38-year-old youth from Edavanna in Kerala’s Malappuram district, who showed symptoms of Mpox, has been put under observation at the Manjeri Medical College hospital.
