West Nile Virus death in Kerala: Mosquitoes, dead crows sent for testing to NIV

A week after a 6-year-old boy from Malappuram, Kerala, lost his life to West Nile Fever, samples of dead crows and mosquitoes have now been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Alappuzha to test for the virus.

West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne disease and is related to viruses that cause Japanese encephalitis, Yellow Fever and St Louis Encephalitis. The mosquitoes catch the virus through infected birds. The virus is most often transmitted to humans via mosquitoes, and human-to-human transmission of the virus is very rare.

According to reports, samples of mosquitoes were collected by the Vector Control Department officials from various parts of Venniyur in Malappuram. Apart from this, remains of four dead crows which were found in and around the area were also sent to the NIV for testing.

Officials of the Animal Husbandry Department laboratory in Malappuram conducted a post mortem of the dead crows and have sent their organs for testing.  

State prepares to tackle West Nile Fever 

The State Government has set up a multi-disciplinary team in Malappuram to investigate the various epidemiological aspects of West Nile Fever and also aid the district administration in preventing and managing the disease.

To prevent mosquito bites, the state has also been asked to follow the National Vector Borne Disease Control (NVBDCP) programme of personal protection.

Further, all cases of Japanese Encephalitis or Acute Encephalitis syndrome are to be inspected as per the guidelines of the disease and also tested for West Nile Virus.

The directive comes after the young boy from Malappuram in Kerala succumbed to West Nile Virus on Monday after being admitted at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital from early March.