Central Team to Visit Nipah Affected Areas in Kozhikode Today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: One more case of Nipah virus was confirmed in Kozhikode district taking the total number of active cases to four in the state.

A 39-year-old man, who is under observation at a hospital, was diagnosed with the Nipah virus. He had also sought treatment at a private hospital where Nipah-positive had come for availing other medical facilities.

The members of the central team that arrived in Kozhikode the other day, will visit affected areas to evaluate detection, infection control, prevention and treatment activities in the district. The team comprises two joint directors of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (ISDP, a senior consultant microbiologist, an epidemiologist, a neurologist and a wildlife officer.

Contact list grows

Meanwhile, the number of people on the contact list has reached 950. A high-level meeting chaired by ministers will be held today to review the situation in the district. Health Minister Veena George, PWD Minister Muhammed Riyaz, Port Minister Ahammed Devarkovil and Forest Minister A K Saseendran will assess the situation at the meeting. MPs and MLAs of the district will also participate.

A review meeting will also be held with the elected representatives of affected panchayats.

The samples of 30 more people have been sent for testing.  The mobile team of RGCB will also reach Kozhikode today.

Karnataka steps up surveillance in border areas

Given the Nipah outbreak in Kerala, the Karnataka government has directed to set up of surveillance units at the Kerala-Karnataka border checkposts. The Karnataka government has directed people to travel to Kozhikode district only if necessary. Besides, it has asked the authorities to intensify fever surveillance in Chamarajanagar, Mysore, Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada areas of the state.

Insistence on Nipah negative certificates irks students

In Bhopal, the authorities of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNT) in Madhya Pradesh have asked Malayalee students to produce Nipah negative certificates for entering the campus.

The direction comes at a time when the open counselling for UG and PG admissions is to be held on Friday and Saturday.

The students from Kerala were asked to produce Nipah-negative certificates for this purpose. With this, the students were in distress. The directive has evoked sharp criticism from the students as the health officials in Kerala are not providing Nipah negative certificates.

Strict enforcement continues in Nipah-affected areas of the district

The district collector has suspended all public functions, cultural programmes and sports events for ten days. All religious events and functions including festivals connected with temples, churches and mosques should be organised with minimal participation. All education institutions in the district will remain closed on Friday.