Kochi: A 47-year-old man died of West Nile fever in Kerala on Sunday.
It was the first case of fatality attributed to the vector-borne disease in recent times. The previous reported case in Kerala was in 2019.
According to Kerala Health department officials, Joby was treated at different hospitals after developing fever and other symptoms on May 17. Two days ago, he was admitted to the Thrissur Government Medical College and Hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with West Nile fever.
Two persons who had accompanied the victim — Puthanpurackal Joby, from Panancheri in Thrissur district — to the hospital reportedly developed symptoms of the disease. Their blood samples have been sent for investigation.
The state has sounded an alert following the death of Joby.
The Health department’s data shows West Nile virus — spread by the Culex species of mosquitoes — can lead to a fatal neurological disease in human beings, The Indian Express reported.
However, 80% of those infected with the virus are unlikely to show any symptom.
The virus is mostly transmitted through infected mosquitoes, with birds being natural hosts of the West Nile virus.
Humans can get infected if they are bitten by infected mosquitoes. Once mosquitoes get infected after feeding on infected birds, the virus circulates in the blood for a few days and eventually reach their salivary glands.
Thereafter, mosquito bites can transfer the virus to human beings and animals, where it can multiply and cause illness.
Authorities in the region have pro-actively taken steps.
Health officials and panchayat members held a meeting to strengthen preventive measures, mainly to destroy sources of mosquito breeding, the Panancheri panchayat president said.
