Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 5: A circular has been issued to all the private and government-run hospitals in Dakshina Kannada district to immediately convey to health department if they find presence of Nipah virus among patients. This measure has been taken as a precautionary measure in view of this virus having been found in a student from Kerala recently. The department wants to be extra careful as Dakshina Kannada district borders Kerala.

Lot of people travel to this district and back from Kerala on a daily basis. A large number of patients from Kerala also visit the district. Based on these things, the department has taken tremendous precaution.

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As many of the visitors from Kerala come by train, the railway physicians have in particular been asked to be extra careful. They have been advised to specifically conduct checks whenever they come across patients suffering from fever or other kinds of health complications. District survey officer, Dr Praveen, has asked the hospitals and doctors facing shortage of manpower to recommend such patients to Wenlock Hospital.

Nipah virus had claimed over 15 lives in Kozhikode and Manappuram in Kerala last year. Even then, precautionary measures had been undertaken in Dakshina Kannada district. Swab samples of two patients had been sent to the laboratory at Pune on the basis of suspicion, and both the cases had been found to be negative.

Nipah virus mainly spreads through bats and pigs. Domestic animals can also be carriers of this virus. People should be very careful as this virus can be transmitted when coughing and sneezing.