KERALA GOVT TAKES STEPS TO AVOID SPREAD OF NIPAH OUTBREAK

TH I RU VAN ANT HAP U RAM: In a bid to contain the advance of a secondary infection of deadly Nipah virus that claimed 17 lives in north Kerala earlier this month, the state health department on Friday announced several steps.

It has asked the high court registrar to shut the Kozhikkode district court, directed the staff of a government hospital to proceed on immediate leave and asked people not to organise large gathering or parties for ten days.

Out of 20 infected with the virus, 17 died and three are in hospital, said a senior health official.

Besides this, at least 12 others have shown symptoms of an infection and at least 1,400 people who came in contact with some of the deceased are under observation in Kozhikkode and Malappuram districts.

“We expected such a scenario. We will leave no stone unturned. We have to be on high alert because the incubation period of the virus is between two weeks and 20 days,” said health minister KK Shailaja.

Health officials however, admitted that they were worried over the mounting deaths from the infection.

Kozhikkode district collector UV Jose has written to the high court requesting it to close the district court for some time after the senior superintendent of the court died of Nipah infection. Many in the court were in contact with him and the authorities want to rule out a secondary infection.

The district administration has also asked people not to organise large gatherings, celebrations for at least two weeks.

Similarly, the health department has asked all staff members of the Balussery government hospital to proceed on leave after the death of two persons being treated for virus last week.

“It is a precautionary measure. Two persons who were treated here later died at the medical college hospital. We don’t want to take any chance and asked all of them including doctors to proceed on immediate leave,” said Kozhikkode district medical officer

› Dr V Jayasree.

We will leave no stone unturned. We have to be on high alert because the incubation period of the virus is between two weeks and 20 days. KK SHAILAJA, Kerala health minister