Health Ministry reviews Kerala's preparedness

New Delhi: In the wake of the death of a six-year-old boy who was undergoing treatment for West Nile fever in Kerala, the Centre on Tuesday reviewed the current situation, preparedness, and action taken to deal with the disease in the state's Mallapuram district.

According to Union Health Ministry officials, this could be the first fatality due to the vector-borne disease reported from the country.

The Union Health Ministry along with officials from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reviewed the state's preparedness and action taken to deal with West Nile Fever (WNF) in Mallapuram district on Tuesday, an official said.

A multi-disciplinary central team is already in Mallapuram to investigate various epidemiological aspects of West Nile Virus (WNV) there and help the district administration in preventing its spread and overall management.

The state has been advised to follow the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP) guidelines of personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites.

The Ministry has also recommended vector surveillance and control to be carried out in coordination with NVBDCP.

"It has been advised that all cases of JE/AES are to be investigated as per guidelines of JE/AES and tested for West Nile Virus.

Further, the community is to be sensitized through IEC campaigns on use of personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites as per NVBDCP Guidelines," a senior health ministry official said.

The boy, hailing from Malappuram district, was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital in neighbouring Kozhikode one week ago, after he tested positive for the virus.