Nipah has extremely high mortality rate, far deadlier than COVID: ICMR DG

Nipah virus has a mortality rate 40 to 70 per cent, much higher than that of COVID-19 which has a death rate of two to three per cent, said Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Rajeev Bahl on Friday. "So, the mortality is extremely high," he added.

The statement comes as Kerala witnessed an outbreak of Nipah virus. A total of six people have tested positive for the deadly virus, out of which two died due to the infection. Several restrictions have been imposed in the Kozhikode district with the administration shutting all educational institutions, parks, and beaches.

Addressing a press conference, Bahl said that all efforts are being made to contain the spread of the deadly virus in the southern state.

 “We do not why the cases keep surfacing. In 2018, we found the outbreak in Kerala was related to bats. We are not sure how the infection passed from bats to humans. The link could not be established. Again we are trying to find out this time. It always happens in the rainy season," he said.

He further said that India will be procuring 20 more doses of monoclonal antibody from Australia for the treatment of Nipah virus infection.

"Currently, the doses are available for only 10 patients," he said.