Passengers under watch for Nipah symptoms
Suspected cases should be isolated immediately, health ministry orders
Airport authorities have been ordered by the Ministry of Health and Prevention yesterday to detect and notify passengers showing symptoms of Nipah infection that has hit the state of Kerala.
“In case of a suspected case of Nipah virus, the patient should be isolated immediately and the health authorities contacted,” the ministry said.
The ministry, however allayed fears of travellers citing the latest updates from the Indian health authorities that the outbreak is not a major one and very much localised.
The ministry emphasised the need to educate the passengers from the affected area about the importance of contacting the health authorities in cases they feel any symptoms of Nipah virus infection.
Meanwhile, an Indian soldier has died in West Bengal state of suspected infection by the Nipah virus. The soldier was admitted to hospital in Kolkata on May 20, a week after returning from Kerala.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention yesterday said it has ordered airport authorities to detect and notify passengers showing symptoms of Nipah infection that has hit the state of Kerala in India.
“In case of a suspected case of Nipah virus, the patient should be isolated immediately and contact the health authorities,” the ministry said in a statement. The ministry emphasised the need to educate the passengers from the affected area about the importance of contacting the health authorities in case they feel any symptoms of Nipah virus infection.
The symptoms of the braindamaging disease vary from none to fever, cough, headache, shortness of breath and confusion. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, infection with Nipah virus is associated with encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
After exposure and an incubation period of five to 14 days, the illness presents with three to 14 days of fever and headache, followed by drowsiness, disorientation and mental confusion.
These signs and symptoms can progress to coma within 24 to 48 hours. Some patients may have a respiratory illness during the early part of their infections, and half of the patients could show severe neurological signs and also pulmonary signs.
The UAE ministry had last week advised residents to put off unnecessary trips to Kerala.
However, yesterday, it sought to allay fears of travellers citing the latest updates from India.
The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, after reviewing the cases of all patients who have lost their lives, has said that the Central High-level Team is of the view that the Nipah virus disease is not a major outbreak and is only a local occurrence, the UAE ministry stated.
Flights unaffected
“As of last update from the Indian Ministry of Health, there is no increase [in the] number of detected cases, and no new area [has been] affected by the disease,” it added.
Though the UAE has banned the imports of fruits and vegetables from Kerala, flight operations are not disrupted, airlines confirmed. “Currently, our services to all destinations are operating normally,” Etihad said in a statement.