A few years back, in 2018, the Nipah virus hit Kerala and I came across a movie in Mollywood, named ‘Virus’ which explains the severity of the virus and the story of the survival of a small south-Indian state. The movie got released 2 years back but I got the opportunity to watch it a couple of days back.

WHO explains Nipah spreads to humans from animals or by consuming fruits, eaten by those infected animals. It also spreads from human to human. A category of fruit bats generates this virus and it is high when there is a rush in adrenaline which increases the presence of the virus. Contact with the bat at this juncture increases the risk of infection.

Though the film includes fiction, the underlying theme reflects the detrimental outbreak of the Nipah virus in Kerala which got successfully eradicated from the state. The movie unleashes the fact that about 75% of the virus-infected individuals died and the survival rate is just 30%. Imagine such a virus infection taking all over the world! It would be much worse than what we are going through now.

The systemic intervention of the government, contact tracing, quarantine and, social distancing were practiced then. The schools were closed, some districts were also closed for the safety of the public. Finally, we won and we were free to walk around. This reminds us to remain in hope and one day this too shall pass. We will be unmasked, we will be able to plan for the get-togethers or trips but not until we are safe.

The film is a gentle reminder to stay strong and remain hopeful because, in the end, we will survive this pandemic. This is not a comparison of virus infections Nipah and COVID-19 but I am trying to explain, we will be able to move forward and live a normal life even it takes some time. It is obvious, COVID-19 spread all over the world but the Nipah virus got constrained to Kerala, and mainly to the districts of Malappuram and Kozhikode, but if it had gone wrong, it could have spread to the whole state, and then slowly as COVID did, it could take the entire country and maybe the world. 

 Unlike Covid, Nipah doesn't have a vaccine which could have made things even worse. Thanks to the government, the frontline workers, nurses, and doctors. I remember nurse Lini, who lived in Kozhikode, Kerala, who lost her life, trying to serve the sick Nipah patients. The government recognized her selfless involvement in fighting Nipah.

The film ‘virus’ also picturizes the difficulty in dealing with the dead bodies as it should be handled with care to avoid the spread. The movie shows the bodies being incinerated and later, the government discovered it could also be buried, following protocols. This is what we see now and we feel well connected. There is a lot more in the movie which unfolds the reality but, as I said it gives great expectations of the future. Let us face this COVID pandemic with great hope.

 You can get a lot more information; I suggest each of you watch the movie on Netflix.

 This gives a ray of hope and you feel relieved.

Have a good reality experience and do share your positive vibes below.