Nipah Virus Kills Brave Nurse Lini, Panic Strikes South India As Death Toll Rises

The lethal Nipah virus has victimized many in Southern India, and reportedly 10 are killed. Brave nurse Lini Puthussery died after being hospitalized, leaving behind two little children. She has also left a letter for her husband which is heart-wrenching.

 

She wasn’t just a victim, rather the social media is honoring this young nurse as a martyr. Lini Puthussery, a nurse, a wife, and a doting mother was treating some patients while she herself got infected with the contagious Nipah virus. She admitted herself to the hospital with symptoms of fever and headache and asked to be quarantined. Lini’s husband who works in Bahrain, flew down to Kerala, their home, after getting the news.

She fought a tough battle, but finally couldn’t make it! And she was only 31. Lini left a letter for her husband asking her him to take care of her two children after she’s gone. She anticipated her fate in the struggle against this rare brain damaging virus, Nipah.

Dr. Deepu Sebin paid a tribute to nurse Lini on his Twitter handle, “A nurse who took care of a #NIPHAVirus patients & succumbed to same. Her body was cremated with extreme urgency to prevent any possible spread and even her family could not pay due respect. Respect to Lini & a reminder that healthcare workers take immense personal risk to serve us”.

 

The well is being sealed with net as dead bats have been found inside.

 

But it was not alone Lini, more deaths are being reported due to this sudden Nipah virus outbreak! And the horrifying news is, there is no vaccine yet to tackle the upsurge. Here are a few things about Nipah virus that you must keep in mind:

 

Nipah virus can be transmitted from animals to humans. Fruit Bats are its natural hosts.

 

Nipah Virus

 

Symptoms of Nipah virus(NiV) infection are fever, headache, drowsiness, respiratory illness, disorientation and mental confusion. Patients can progress to coma within 24-48 hours of infection.

 

Health officials have warned residents to avoid fruits cut outside. Remember, Nipah virus disease can only be prevented, there is no foolproof cure yet!

 

The first case of Nipah virus infection was reported in 1999. Exposure to sick pigs must be avoided as a precaution.