Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, May 24: Deputy commissioner Sasikanth Senthil on Thursday May 24 said that no cases of Nipah virus have been reported in Dakshina Kannada, and the blood tests of a suspected Nipah patient has turned out negative.
Addressing the media here, Sasikanth Senthil said, "From past couple of days, spread of Nipah virus has been reported in Kerala, and news of suspected Nipah outbreak in Dakshina Kannada was also reported. But there is no Nipah case reported in Dakshina Kannada. However, as the disease has hit Kerala, we are continuously monitoring the situation in the district.
"There was news that two people with symptoms of Nipah virus were undergoing treatment in Dakshina Kannada, one from Kerala and the other a local. As the lady was working as a staff at a medical college in Kerala, on her own accord she got admitted to hospital out of fear of having contracted the virus. PCR test was done in Manipal and the report is negative. No local has contracted Nipah virus either," he said.
"First, we should understand the disease. The remedy for the disease is knowledge. The foremost possibility of spreading the disease is by close contact with any infected person. This disease does not spread through air, so there is nothing to panic about.
"This disease was first found in 1999 in Malaysia. The virus is predominantly spread through animals to humans. Later in 2004, there was Nipah outbreak in Bangladesh where evidence was found of the virus spreading through human to human contact.
"In Kerala restrictive measures have been taken and Kerala government is following certain protocols. They are also exploring the reasons behind the spread of the disease. Fruit bat is a common carrier of the virus, so avoid eating half eaten fruits and take precaution measures. Avoid toddy made out of date palm, because there might be chances of the fruit bat sitting on it. Follow basic cleanliness, wash the fruits and peel the skin off before you eat them," said Sasikaanth Senthil.
"Also avoid spreading rumours and do not believe in messages about Nipah virus on WhatsApp. Only the district health officers and I are authorised to convey the message to the public about Nipah virus," he added.
District health officer Dr Ramakrishna Rao was present.