Kerala contains Covid medication in Nipah remedy

Express News Service

KOCHI: The Nipah scare, which gripped the state after a 12-year-old boy succumbed to the virus, has began fading away steadily after the boy’s major contacts examined unfavorable. However, the hazard just isn’t utterly over and the Health Department is aware of that.

As a part of gearing up for treating any future sufferers contracting the virus, the division has modified its remedy methodology barely by together with antiviral medication that had been used to battle Covid, fairly than relying solely on monoclonal antibody remedy, which requires medicines imported from overseas. 

The division, in its recently-released remedy protocol for Nipah administration, included antiviral medication Remdesivir and Favipiravir within the remedy plan. International research, carried out within the backdrop of the extraordinarily excessive fatality charge of Nipah an infection and the truth that only a few doses of monoclonal antibody (m102.4) can be found for human use,  have proven that including Remdesivir in Nipah remedy would assist enhance preparedness for future outbreaks.

“Since Nipah infection has a high fatality rate, several countries have initiated studies on finding possible treatments. A study on the efficacy of Remdesivir against Nipah virus, published last year by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), showed that all animals treated with Remdesivir as part of the study survived the Nipah virus. The study indicated that Remdesivir represents a promising treatment for the infection. The antiviral drug has a wide range of possibilities, and clinical trials are progressing to use it to treat Ebola as well,” stated Dr Mathew John, an epidemiologist primarily based in Kochi. 

“Earlier, during the Nipah outbreak in 2018, the drugs were not in common use and not readily available in the market. This changed with the outbreak of Covid pandemic. This may be the reason for the officials to include it in the Nipah treatment protocol,” stated Dr Mathew. 

Doctors with Kozhikode Medical College Hospital stated Favipiravir was given to individuals within the boy’s major contact listing and so they haven’t developed any uncommon signs. “Though there is no conclusive evidence yet on any of the medications to treat Nipah, for an emergency, Remdesivir is used to subdue the fatality of the disease. It can be administered only if the person is positive for the infection. Also, more doses of monoclonal antibody will be arriving to prepare for any dire situation. As of now, we are relived that the health of those who developed symptoms is stable,” stated a well being division official.