Advisory asks people to avoid 4 Kerala districts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government on Wednesday asked people to avoid travelling to four districts in the northern part of the state in view of the Nipah virus (NIV) infection cases reported so far.

The advisory issued by state health secretary Rajeev Sadanandan stated that travelling in any part of the state was safe but if travellers wished to be extracautious they can avoid these four districts for some time.

“A few cases of infection by Nipah virus have been reported from Kozhikode district. The infection remains highly localized. If travellers wish to be extra-cautious they may avoid these districts for some time,” said the advisory adding the government has taken effective measures to contain the virus and surveillance is on persons who were in contact with the affected persons.

“The situation is under control and the infection is totally localized,” it said.

The advisory came in the wake of two suspected cases from Mangaluru and one in Kottayam. In the Mangaluru cases, both patients are from Kerala and they had met Nipah virus infected people while in hospital.

All three persons were isolated and their blood samples taken for examination. Out of the 11 deaths, eight are from Kozhikode and three from Malappuram.

Health officials said since the incubation period of the deadly virus is between four to 18 days they will continue to monitor all those who had possibly came in contact with some of the deceased. The Nipah virus infected 18 persons before it was localised and contained. At least 19 persons are under observation and another 30 have been quarantined. VARANASI: Four sons of a 70-yearold woman allegedly preserved her body with chemicals for five months to draw her pension in Kabir Nagar area of Varanasi, police said. The deceased, Amaravati Devi, had been getting ₹13,000 as pension after her husband’s death a few years ago, they added.

Circle officer, Bhelupur, AP Singh said a resident of the area informed the police on Dial 100 that Amaravati Devi had reportedly died on January 13 this year but her family concealed her death from relatives and neighbours. Singh said the police reached the spot and sent the body for autopsy. The woman had five sons and a daughter. A police officer privy to the investigation said five blank cheques signed by Amaravati Devi were also recovered from the house. Pleading innocence, one of her sons, Ravi Prakash, told the police that his mother was in coma and they used to give her medicines and milk daily.

Residents told the police that Daya Prakash, a superintendent in customs department, passed away a few years ago after which his wife started getting a pension.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said Amaravati fell ill in January this year and was admitted to Sir Sundarlal Hospital at BHU. “When her condition did not improve, the family brought her home where she died on January 13. Initially, the family announced her death but later one of her sons claimed he had seen movement in her hand and she was still alive,” he said.

THE ADVISORY CAME IN THE WAKE OF TWO SUSPECTED CASES FROM MANGALURU AND ONE IN KOTTAYAM POLICE SAID TO CONCEAL FOUL ODOUR, THEY APPLIED CHEMICALS AND BURNT ‘LOBAN’ (GUM BENZOIN) IN THE HOUSE