Hyderabad: Following the panic generated by the Nipah virus across the country, the state health department has undertaken measures that are needed to ensure that the hospitals in the state are well equipped to deal with patients.
Although citizens have been asked not to panic as the medical department is vigilant about the spread of the virus, they have still been asked to take preventative measures. Special wards are being built in hospitals.
The superintendent of Osmania Hospital said “We have directed the general medicine departments regarding the Nipah virus. Patients with fever and cold have been asked to be dealt with separately and N95 masks have been handed over to the staff to ensure that the disease is not spread.”
Hospitals have been asked to take extra precautionary measures because of the large number of people travelling from different states to TS.
“We cannot block all modes of transport and therefore we have to take preventative measures to ensure that even if a case is reported, it does not affect more people and our health professionals are not harmed.” a health ministry official said.
Citizens have been asked to be wary of symptoms such as fever and colds. Meanwhile following the death of a nurse in Kozhikode, who was affected by the same virus after taking care of a patient, nurses and doctors have been instructed to ensure that they are wearing protective gear at all times including face masks and gloves.
They have also been instructed to follow proper hand washing techniques and ask all those visiting hospitals to do the same.
The death of Lini, the nurse, moved many doctors and nurses who volunteered to treat patients in Kozhikode. Dr Kafeel Khan fro Gorakhpur, who was closely involved with the case of nearly 60 infants dying of Japanese encephalitis, expressed willingness to serve the public to which Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has given his approval.
