Nipah virus: Food safety advises vendors to check on source of fruits
The sellers of blueberry, guava and mango were alerted on the need quality fruits and not to sell fruits the origin of which is not known.
KOZHIKODE: The food safety department launched massive inspections in the city on Tuesday in the wake of Nipah scare. They create awareness among the public, fruit-juice stalls and wayside vendors against the deadly virus. The sellers of blueberry, guava and mango were alerted on the need quality fruits and not to sell fruits the origin of which is not known.
Food safety assistant commissioner P.K. Aleyamma said there is instruction from the food safety commissioner on launching an awareness campaign on the risk involved in consuming as well as selling fruits like Blueberry endearing for birds including bats.
"Though it is yet to be confirmed whether the origin of the disease was from bats, from the available information we have launched the campaign," she told DC. Meanwhile, the municipal corporation has convened an emergency meeting of health inspectors on Wednesday to streamline precautionary measures. Corporation standing committee chairperson (health) K.V. Baburaj told DC that the civic body had already issued directives to traders, street vendors and hoteliers on precautionary measures.