Kerala govt shuts schools in seven districts to curb Nipah virus
Education | September 14, 2023 9:46 ISTThe decision has been taken to shut schools, offices and other institutions in order to curb the spread of the rare and deadly virus.
The decision has been taken to shut schools, offices and other institutions in order to curb the spread of the rare and deadly virus.
Nipah virus: Local self-government institutions and village offices can function with minimum staff. Banks, other government or quasi-government institutions, educational institutions, and anganwadis should not operate, the collector said.
Nipah virus: Everyone should strictly follow the instructions of the health department and the police and fully cooperate with the restrictions, the CM urged.
The first Nipah virus outbreak in south India was reported from Kozhikode on May 19, 2018.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George said the results of the samples collected form bats from the area where the boy lived have shown the presence of antibodies of Nipah.
The DC said his samples are sent for test to National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune and the result is awaited. The person’s family members have been kept in isolation.
As Kerala is once again reeling under Nipah scare, claiming the life of a 12-year-old boy recently, Muthalib recounted the tragedy that had befallen his family in 2018, saying the disease was equal to death, fear and social exclusion for them.
Along with the surge in COVID-19 cases, Kerala is currently batting with another virus i.e Nipah virus after a 12-year-old boy died on Sunday in the district of Kozhikode in a private hospital.
There are currently 48 people in the high risk category who are at a medical college isolation ward and their health condition is "stable".
Nipah Virus also surfaced in the state of Tamil Nadu as first case of the infection was identified in the state.
The Chathamangalam Panchayat and adjacent areas are completely cordoned off after the boy was found infected with Nipah virus.
The 2 are among the 20 high-risk contacts of the deceased 12-yr-old child, she said.
Although the state government has not yet officially announced the presence of Nipah virus, sources said the health minister might rush to Kozhikode Sunday morning to take stock of the situation.
State Health Minister KK Shailaja informed that a soldier, who had returned after serving in Sudan, has been detected with 'plasmodium oval, a new genus of malaria'.
With the outbreak of Nipah virus in Kerala, an alert has been sounded in the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for infection. As many as 314 people from various districts in Kerala are currently under observation. Meanwhile, a college student in Kerala was being treated at a private hospital for Nipah virus. His condition is said to be stable.
A total of 311 people from various districts are under observation, Health Minister K K Shailaja said.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warned of stringent action against those who spread misinformation and urged people to follow the instructions of the health department.
In 1999, pig farmers in Malaysia's Sungai Nipah were diagnosed with a curious disease which started off with mild flu like symptoms -- fever, headache etc. Initially, the virus was prevented with a Japanese encephalitis antidote, but the remedy was not entirely successful.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan held an urgent meeting here and assured the state of Centre's support.
The state that witnesses 12 deaths to NiV, with 22 positive cases reported from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts last year in May, was waiting the blood reports of a youth since Monday
Top News
Latest News
