'Avoid Unnecessary Travel To Kerala': Karnataka Tells People, Rajasthan Too Issues Advisory Amid Nipah Scare
Amid the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, the Karnataka government has asked the general public to avoid unnecessary travel to affected areas of Kerala.
In view of the cases of Nipah virus in Kerala, the Karnataka government issued a circular advising the general public to avoid unnecessary travel to affected areas of Kerala. In the circular, the state government has asked to intensify surveillance in the bordering districts of Kerala ( Kodagu, Dakshin Kannada, Chamrajanagara, and Mysore) and at the points of entry to Karnataka. “In view of reporting, of 4 confirmed Nipah cases with 2 deaths in Kazhikode district of Kerala state, the surveillance activities in the districts bordering Kerala State need to be intensified to prevent the transmission of the infection,” the circular read.
In view of Nipah cases in Kerala, Karnataka Govt issued a circular and has advised the general public to avoid unnecessary travel to affected areas of Kerala; intensify surveillance in the bordering districts to Kerala ( Kodagu, Dakshin Kannada, Chamrajanagara & Mysore) and at… pic.twitter.com/41whQrTgx2
— ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2023
The total number of Nipah cases in Kerala reached six after a fresh case of the virus was confirmed in a 39-year-old man who is under observation in a hospital in Kozhikode.
Kerala | One more case of Nipah virus confirmed in a 39-year-old man who is under observation in a hospital in Kozhikode: Health Minister's Office
— ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2023
Following confirmation of the Nipah outbreak in Kerala’s Kozhikode district, the former Health Minister and senior ruling CPI(M) MLA K K Shailaja said that the state had nothing to worry as the situation is not as scary as it was in 2018. She said that the southern state has a protocol and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to effectively fight the infection and prevent its spread. Shaiaja was the Health minister in the previous LDF government, which fought the first Nipah outbreak in the state.
The virus strain seen in the state was the Bangladesh variant that spreads from human to human and has a high mortality rate, though it is less infectious. In the wake of stopping the spread of the rare and deadly Nipah virus, the state government shut some schools, offices, and public transport on Wednesday.
The state government on Wednesday evening said at least 706 people, including 153 health workers, were undergoing tests to check the spread of the virus. While the outbreak this time took place in Kozhikode, minister Veena George said entire Kerala is prone to getting such infections according to WHO and ICMR studies.
Rajasthan Issues ‘Alert’ For Medical Officials
The Rajasthan government on Thursday directed medical officials to remain “alert” regarding any Nipah outbreak in the wake of cases being reported from Kerala’s Kozhikode district, as reported by PTI.
The medical and health services department director has issued an advisory to the principals of all medical colleges and chief medical and health officers of all districts. The department has also issued an advisory for health workers.
Kerala Gets Nipah Virus Antibody, Samples To Be Tested In Mobile Lab
The ICMR has delivered the antibody requested by the state to combat the deadly virus. A mobile laboratory was also sent to ground zero to enable sample testing. The ICMR delivered the monoclonal antibody in Kozhikode on Thursday.
The ICMR's National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune sent its mobile BSL-3 (Biosafety Level-3) laboratory to Kozhikode to test samples for the virus in the district itself after five cases, including two deaths, were recorded.
Meanwhile, in a relief to the state government, the 11 samples sent for testing returned negative results for the virus, news agency PTI reported citing a source.
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