Kerala: All educational institutions closed till tomorrow in Kozhikode to contain Nipah virus infections: Union Minister reviews situation
In Kerala, samples of 15 persons belonging to the high risk category included in the Nipah contact list in Kozhikode were sent for testing yesterday, while 11 samples collected earlier tested negative for Nipah virus.
State Health Minister Veena George, who held a review meeting of senior officials yesterday, said isolation wards have been arranged in private hospitals in case the need arise. Directions have been issued to ensure sufficient stock of medicines and other materials including protective gear. She asked officials to seek police help to trace those in the contact list, using mobile tower locations.
234 people were traced yesterday as part of the Nipah surveillance. 950 persons are on the contact list, of which 213 are in the high risk category. The list includes 287 health workers.
Meanwhile, health authorities have asked public not to handle carcasses of animals like pigs and bats themselves.
The Kozhikode district administration has declared holiday for all educational institutions for tomorrow also. The Administrator of Mahe, an enclave near Kozhikode under the Union Territory of Puducherry, has also declared holiday for all educational institutions today and tomorrow.
Union Minister Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar reviews steps taken on containment of Nipah Virus Outbreak
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar yesterday reviewed the steps taken on containment of Nipah Virus Outbreak in Kozhikode, Kerala. Dr Pawar visted the Indian Council of Medical Research – National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) in Pune and took stock of preparations in this regard.
After the review meeting, Dr Pawar said that the Central government is monitoring the situation and necessary steps for prevention of spread are being taken. She informed that a high level teams from the Centre and ICMR-NIV with mobile units equipped with BSL-3 laboratories have already reached Kozhikode and will be doing on-ground testing.
She also added that the affected gram panchayats in the Kozhikode area have been declared as quarantine zones. A multi-disciplinary team led by Dr Mala Chhabra has been deputed by Union Health Ministry to support the state in public health measures to deal with this outbreak.
Dr Pawar assured that that the Union Health Ministry and the ICMR-NIV is monitoring the situation on a daily basis and all possible arrangements are being made by the central government to deal with the viral outbreak.
