No bat virus in TS for now
Two samples sent on Friday from Cure Hospital and NIMS in Hyderabad have tested negative for the Nipah virus that is spread by bats.
Initial tests by hospitals had shown that the two patients had not caught the ‘bat virus’ but the samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, to be certain.
One of the samples was from a techie, 24, who had gone to Kerala on May 18 and returned on May 20. He contracted high fever and was admitted to Continental Hospital in Gachibowli.
District medical and health officer Dr Padmaja K said, “We shifted the patient to Cure Hospital and collected his throat and blood samples and sent them to Pune. We created a quarantine zone for the patient and ensured that all medical personnel treating him wore protective gear. The patient is stable now and his tests have come up negative.”
A 30-year-old man was admitted at Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences after he fell unconscious due to high fever. Director of medical education Dr K. Ramesh Reddy said the patient had no travel history to Kerala and was a resident of Mahbubnagar.
Two samples sent on Friday from Cure Hospital and NIMS in Hyderabad have tested negative for the Nipah virus that is spread by bats.
“We concluded that he was not affected by the virus but we didn’t want to take a chance and sent the sample for tests,” Dr Ramesh Reddy said. That sample also tested negative.
The patient has been put on ventilator for other medical reasons, and not due to the bat virus, Dr Padmaja said.
Dr Padmaja said all hospitals in the state had been sent notices to submit reports at regular intervals if any patient came in with symptoms of the bat virus
She said the situation had deteriorated in Kerala because many who were taking treatment in the hospital where the first patient was admitted caught the virus. “We have taken precautionary measures to ensure that it doesn’t happen here,” Dr Padmaja said.
Ranga Reddy district medical and health officer Dr Balaji Pawar said there was no need to panic.
“We sent the samples not only to be on the safe side but also to avoid panic and ostracisation. Many nurses and patients in Kerala are facing the same problem as people refuse to get in touch with those who are sick.”