Last Updated: 24th July, 2022

A disease, widely known as the West Nile Virus is accounted for to be found in the Southern Indian State of Kerala. The Government of India is taking proper measures to deal with the disease and further spreading of this disease.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a widely known mosquito-borne disease. It is a typical single-stranded RNA (ribonucleic acid) Virus that causes West Nile Fever and is able to develop neurological disease and death in persons. It is a component of the family of Flaviviridae which belongs to the Japanese Encephalitis Antigenic Complex, particularly and characteristically from the genus Flavivirus, which additionally contains the Yellow Fever Virus, Dengue Virus, and Zika Virus.

Birds are the primary natural carrier of this virus. At the point when a mosquito bites a contaminated bird, the virus gets transmitted by the mosquitoes.

Key Factors Of West Nile Virus (WNV)

• West Nile Virus is able to develop a lethal neurological disease in peoples.
• Be that as it may, roughly 80% of individuals who are infected won’t show up any manifestations.
• WNV is primarily transmitted to humans through the bites of contaminated mosquitoes.
• This virus can cause extreme diseases and death in horses.
• Vaccines and antibodies are available for use in horses, however unfortunately not yet available for humans.
• Birds are the primary natural carrier of this West Nile Virus.

The existence of this virus is most widely found in the United States. From the year 1999 to 2014, an aggregate of 41,762 instances of West Nile virus disease accounted for in the United States.

The usual indications of this virus are fever, vomiting, rash or a headache. Eight out of ten infected persons don’t build up any indications. There is no particular vaccination or cure accessible for this virus, with respect to now. Environmental change may trigger the danger of human exposure to West Nile virus, if not taken proper steps in the near future.

In any case, not very many instances of this infection are accounted for in India. Some different instances of WNV were likewise revealed in Kerala before. Amid the year 2011, the existence of WNV has been routinely detailed in the state.

As of late a 7-year-old kid from the Malappuram District of Kerala was detected to have positive WNV. The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare is firmly monitoring and checking the circumstances in Kerala.

The administration has issued a high alarm in the district. A tight monitoring is being kept up at the Central and State level. Each and every hospitals’ have been alerted and cautioned to make plans for isolation wards and safety kits.

The Ministry of Health sent a multi-disciplinary Central Core Group of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) to Kerala for helping and supporting the State Health Authorities to deal with the disease and getting a hold on spreading of the virus.

Concerning now, no new cases have been accounted for the spread of this virus in other regions of India.