Malappuram boy dies of West Nile virus

MALAPPURAM: Six-year-old boy from AR Nagar panchayat in the district who was infected by West Nile virus died on Monday morning.


It was on March 11, that Muhammed Shan, resident of Azad Nagar was admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (KMCH), after confirming the virus infction. He died around 3am on Monday.

Following the report of disease, the district health administration had issued special alert across the district against the disease, which typically is spread by Qulex mosquitoes. In view of the report of virus infection, a Central health team visited AR Nagar and Munniyur regions on Friday and Saturday and collected samples from mosquitoes and birds for detailed laboratory examination.

West Nile fever is a relatively unknown viral infection in the region. The prevalence of the virus was raised in Alappuzha and parts of Kottayam in 2006 during the outbreak of Chikungunya . A suspected case of disease was also reported in a 24-year-old woman in Kozhikode last year. But it is first time that a death due to the virus infection is being reported in the state.

In view of death of boy health minister issued special direction on Monday to director of public health to take immediate preventive measures. She said there is no reason to panic.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) West Nile virus is mainly transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes and it can cause a fatal neurological disease and even death. Birds are the natural hosts of West Nile virus. Human infection is often the result of bites from infected mosquitoes, which become infected when they feed on infected birds which circulate the virus in their blood for a few days, says WHO website. No human-to-human transmission of WNV through casual contact has been documented, according to WHO. Symptoms of infection includes fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, vomiting etc.