Nipah virus has been confirmed in the 23-year-old man who had been admitted to a private hospital in Ernakulam on May 30, says the Kerala government. The confirmation came in from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.
The Kerala Health Department has initiated precautionary measures to deal with the possible outbreak of Nipah virus.
State Health Minister K K Shailaja said in Thiruvananthapuram there was no need to panic and precautionary measures are already in place.
In a presser, she said that 86 people are being observed and medicine is in stock. 2 nurses have reported symptoms of fever, but confirmation in their case is not in yet.
She said isolation wards have been set up at the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital in Kochi. The Health department in the state has geared up to deal with a possible outbreak, officials said here.
On June 3rd, Chief Minister’s Office, Kerala, tweeted that the government is taking a series of measures to address the situation, and that there is no need to panic:
A meeting of officials of the Health Department and Ernakulam district authorities held reviewed the situation. It was chaired by Principal Secretary (Health), Rajan Khobragade.
A team of medical experts, who have experience in dealing with the situation, have been rushed to Ernakulam from Kozhikode, officials said after the meeting.
A senior district health official said "good news" is being received from doctors attending on the student at the hospital. He had taken food in the morning and is responding to medicines, the official said.
Ernakulam district Collector Mohammed Y Saffirulla said steps have been taken for capacity building at government and private hospitals to deal with the situation.
Surveillance teams have been constituted to follow the suspected cases of Nipah.
A facility to quarantine patients with suspected case of Nipah has been arranged at the Government Medical College, Kalamassery, he said.
A control room would be opened at the district headquarters apart from a media cell to provide information to the media, he added.
Assuming that the student has contracted the Nipah virus, Health authorities have directed the people with whom the student had contacted to report to the nearest medical facility if they develop influenza-like symptoms like fever, headache, myalgia (muscle pain), vomiting and sore throat.
Health authorities in Thrissur said the student who was suffering from fever had sought medical assistance at two private hospitals in Thrissur city when he had come here for a training programme recently as part of his course.
He is studying in Thodupuzha in Idukki district.
Thrissur District Medical Officer, Dr Reena, said six persons, who had been in direct contact with the student, were currently under observation.
Besides, the people who contacted the student were also under watch, the DMO said.
She said the student was in Thrissur only for four days and had been suffering from fever.
There were 16 other students with him and six of them, who came in direct contact with him, were under observation, she added.
Idukki district medical authorities said the college in Thodupuzha, where the student is studying, is also under observation.
Officials said the family and neighbours of the young man, who hails from Ernakulam district were also under observation as was the college in Thodupuzha, where the student is studying.
The Health minister said there was no need for people to panic as the government has taken all precautionary measures and asked all private hospitals to inform them if suspected cases were reported.
On May 19, 2018, Nipah virus disease (NiV) outbreak was reported from Kozhikode in Malappuram district.
As per state government figures, the Nipah virus had claimed 17 lives - 14 in Kozhikode and three in neighbouring Malappuram in May last year.
Here’s How You Can Protect Yourself From Nipah Virus
Nipah virus, or NiV infection, is an infectious disease that causes severe illness in animals and humans. It spreads through infected fruit bats, pigs, or from other infected people. Nipah virus is fairly new.
Here’s all you need to know about the Nipah virus and how you can avoid getting sick:
(With inputs from PTI)
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