'India makes first breakthrough in the Nipah virus Cure'

Copyright © HT Digital Streams Limit all rights reserved. ICMR gets a breakthrough in attempts to develop first indigenous nipah virus medicine. The virus is regularly transmitted from fruit bats. (PTI) Summary There is no vaccine against the Nipah virus, which has a death rate of 40-70%. New -delhi: Indian government scientists say they have reached a breakthrough in attempts to develop an indigenous therapy for the treatment of Nipah virus patients. Read also | HMPV -Virus: How doctors use social media, humor to educate people who are familiar with the matter, said the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR) has held successful animal trials with the country’s first indigenous developed monoclonal antibodies (MABS) to treat nipah virus patients. The virus, which is regularly transmitted from fruit bats, has a high mortality rate. Currently, India performs monoclonal antibodies from Queensland, Australia. It is administered intravenously. Read also | Kerala: Nipah virus case confirmed in the Malappuram district, there is no vaccine against the Nipah virus, which has a death rate of 40-70%. There have been repeated Nipah virus outbreaks in the country since 2018, especially in Kerala, the most recent case of the Nipah virus was a 42-year-old woman from Valanchery in the Malappuram District Kerala this month. The patient is in coma and is supported by a ventilator. Read also | India registers more than 200 HMPV cases in 2024; Scientists do not say a new virus. The virus, which causes neurological symptoms, including seizures and inability to think or concentrate clearly, is an important problem with public health. “India makes indigenous monoclonal antibodies (MABS) to treat nipah virus patients, and we have some initial success. In small animal experiments, it has shown some promising results and protection against the virus. After small animal experiments, large animal experiments would be performed, followed by phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials on humans. Manufacture will follow if these tests are successful. “Human safety and protective effectiveness will also be evaluated. It is therefore a very early stage,” the scientist said. Inquiries by email to the ICMR and the National Institute of Virology (NIV-Pune) remained unanswered on Tuesday. NIV Pune has conducted studies showing that bats are reservoirs of viruses. NIV Pune has a full-fledged field unit in Kerala for nipah virus surveillance. “It probably looks like a sporadic case, because a single case has been detected. So it will be a transition from a bat. Because the death rate is high in bats, it becomes very difficult to capture them as they move further, ‘the scientist said. The current stock of the Australian monoclonal antibodies, imported in 2023, is sufficient. As a precaution, NIV-Pune also deployed this monoclonal antibodies to Kerala. Experts believe community education is the key to fighting the Nipah virus. ‘Community education is very important. Virus in the bats survives for a longer time. During the breeding season of the bats, their saliva is also infected and if they sit on coconut trees or fruit trees, they infect the fruits or any other things. When people come into contact in these infected things, they become infected and develop a human director for the community center in the community, ‘says Dr. Sujet, former director of the director of the Human Transmission in the community. Sterilizing fruit for human consumption is not possible because it is very difficult to identify which is infected. Given the criticism of the time element in the Nipah virus cases, ICMR worked on early tracking capabilities. ‘There is a capacity for early detection. Once there is a case, it is detected immediately and is contained. Thus, the distribution is not noticed further. ICMR has ratified a point of care test Truenat for Nipah tracking that is now used by the Kerala government. The detection capacity has risen, ‘the scientist mentioned above. “ICMR established five virus research and diagnostic laboratories in Kerala trained in safe handling practices. They (laboratories) also received diagnostic and laboratory support from the NIV Pune to test and follow and follow the precautions for biodes. So far, no specific treatment has been approved for Nipah infection. This is a big step forward, as monoclonal antibodies have the potential to neutralize the infection and improve outcomes. This monoclonal developed by ICMR will have a major test in self-effectiveness (using innovative trials). It is a big step in self-effectiveness. Epidemic/pandemic paraatiness, “says Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former Director General of ICMR and the former World Health Organization (WHO) chief scientist. Cases and 21 deaths reported. Business news, market news, news reports and latest news updates on live mint.