Which Indian state was placed on alert due to the spread of West Nile fever?

Solution

Kerala issued an alert against West Nile fever following reports of cases and a death in the state. • The Kerala government issued an alert against West Nile fever, a mosquito-borne viral infection, following one death and eight cases reported from Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Thrissur districts. • The deceased was a 79-year-old man from Thrissur, with additional cases predominantly in Kozhikode. • Health Minister Veena George reassured the public, citing ongoing infections since 2011, and directed District Medical Officers to intensify pre-monsoon cleaning drives to control mosquito populations. • The diagnosis of West Nile fever was confirmed through blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples tested at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Lab and further validated by the National Institute of Virology in Pune. • Symptoms of West Nile fever include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, and in severe cases, disorientation, stupor, and paralysis; however, 80% of infected individuals may show no symptoms. • The virus is primarily transmitted by Culex mosquitoes after feeding on infected birds, with no evidence of human-to-human transmission. • According to the World Health Organization (WHO), treatment is supportive, involving hospitalization, intravenous fluids, respiratory support, and prevention of secondary infections, with no vaccine available for humans. Learn Along: About Kerala CM:Pinarayi Vijayan          Governor:Arif Mohammed Khan        Capital: Thiruvananthapuram