India has reached out to Australia to restock monoclonal antibody doses to combat the Nipah virus. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) head, Dr. Rajiv Bahl, stated that the monoclonal antibody has passed phase-one trials and has been administered to 14 people globally.
The aim is to contain the Nipah virus as quickly as possible, as its mortality rate is between 40% and 70%, compared to the 2% to 3% mortality rate of COVID-19. Kerala is currently facing its fourth outbreak of the virus, with two deaths and at least five infections reported. Contact tracing efforts are underway, and several villages have been declared containment zones.
The antibody is administered at the discretion of the state government, the patient, and the treating doctor. India received some doses of monoclonal antibodies from Australia in 2018, and currently, there are doses available for only 10 patients. The antibody is not a treatment but is made available for compassionate use. There is no authorised treatment for Nipah, and the antibody's effectiveness is still being studied.
The antibody is used in Australia for the Hendra virus, and two doses are required per person. The exact reason for the repeated outbreaks in Kerala is still being investigated, but they are known to occur during a particular season. The ICMR emphasised the importance of following COVID-19 precautions, such as wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining proper hygiene, and avoiding contact with infected individuals, to contain the spread of the virus.
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