Nipah in Kerala: Border districts of Karnataka asked to strengthen fever surveillance

Mangaluru: With Nipah cases reported in neighboring Kerala, the Karnataka government has asked the bordering districts to strengthen fever surveillance.  A comprehensive set of precautionary and preventive measures have been taken in bordering districts.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao chaired a meeting with officials on Wednesday. A virtual conference involving state health department officials and their district-level counterparts was also held.

"All government and private health institutions must meticulously document suspected Nipah cases and promptly relay the information to the district surveillance unit. District hospitals, Taluk Hospitals, and all medical college hospitals are instructed to set up a dedicated ward with 10 beds. PHC Medical Officials have been tasked with strengthening fever surveillance," the minister said.

Additionally, the Minister directed officials to ensure the availability of medical oxygen and essential medicines and to provide training to field officials regarding Nipah symptoms. The Principal Secretary received instructions to dispatch samples from suspected cases recorded in the district lab to the National Institute of Virology in Pune.

Meanwhile, Health department officials urged the public not to panic, advising individuals with a history of fever and travel to Kozhikode, as well as those in direct contact with a confirmed Nipah case, to be considered potentially vulnerable.

Addressing reporters, Dakshina Kannada district health and family welfare officer (in-charge) Dr CM Sudarshan confirmed that the district has not reported any suspected cases so far.

Isolation wards are being established at seven Community Health Centers (CHCs), four Taluk-level Hospitals, and at the Government Wenlock Hospital. Private hospitals have also been requested to reserve beds for suspected cases.