ICMR DG Rajeev Bahl emphasized the stark contrast in mortality rates, highlighting Nipah’s devastating impact with a fatality rate ranging between 40% and 70%, compared to COVID’s considerably lower mortality rate of 2-3%.
New Delhi, – In a significant development, India has announced the procurement of 20 more doses of monoclonal antibody from Australia for the treatment of Nipah virus infection, as revealed by ICMR DG Rajeev Bahl on Friday.
Bahl stated, “We received a limited supply of monoclonal antibody from Australia back in 2018. Presently, these doses are available for just 10 patients.”
Notably, no individual in India has been administered this medication to date.
“We are actively procuring an additional 20 doses. However, it’s crucial to emphasize that the medicine must be administered during the early stages of the infection and is intended for compassionate use only,” Bahl added.
Highlighting the severity of Nipah virus, Bahl underlined that the mortality rate among those infected is considerably high, ranging from 40 to 70 percent, far surpassing the mortality rate of COVID-19, which stands at 2-3 percent.
Bahl also emphasized that strenuous efforts are underway to contain the spread of the virus in Kerala, where all patients have been identified as contacts of an index patient.
When questioned about the recurring cases in Kerala, Bahl remarked, “We are yet to ascertain the exact cause. In 2018, we linked the outbreak in Kerala to bats, but the precise mode of transmission from bats to humans remained elusive. Once again, we are striving to uncover this information. Typically, such outbreaks coincide with the rainy season.”
He further revealed that monoclonal antibody treatment has been administered to 14 patients infected with the Nipah virus outside India, and all of them have successfully recovered.
“Currently, only phase 1 trials to establish the safety of this medicine have been conducted abroad. Efficacy trials have not yet been completed. It is vital to underscore that this treatment can only be given on a compassionate use basis,” Bahl explained.
Globally, monoclonal antibodies have been administered to 14 Nipah virus-infected patients outside India, all of whom have made a full recovery.
The ultimate decision regarding the use of this antibody treatment lies with the Kerala government, healthcare professionals, and the families of affected patients.
