Nipah control room opened in Kozhikode
The DMO has urged the public not to panic, stating that the patient who recently died of suspected Nipah had no contact with the public, and hence, the chances of the disease spreading are minimal. However, 43 health workers are under observation.
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Nipah: 425 on contact list, fever surveillance to be held
T'puram/ Kozhikode: There are a total of 425 people, including healthcare workers, on the Nipah contact list in state, said health minister Veena George on Saturday. National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, confirmed that death of 18-year-old girl from Chettiyarangadi, in Malappuram, on July 1 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kozhikode was due to Nipah infection. A 38-year-old woman from Thachanattukara, in Palakkad, who also tested positive, is battling for life at Moulana Hospital, Perinthalmanna. Meanwhile, the central surveillance unit of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is in close contact with the state unit and is actively monitoring the situation after two Nipah virus cases were detected by Kerala IDSP. According to official sources, the deployment of a national joint outbreak response team is being considered. In Malappuram, there are 228 people, 110 in Palakkad and 87 people in Kozhikode on the contact list. Twelve persons are under treatment in Malappuram, with five in the ICU. One person on the contact list tested negative. In Palakkad, one person is under isolation treatment. There are 61 healthcare workers on the contact list in Palakkad. In Kozhikode district, all 87 people on the contact list are healthcare workers. Instructions have been given to conduct fever surveillance in the area, said George. Those on the contact list in Palakkad should be isolated there, she said. "Mental support should be ensured. Ambulances, including Kaniv 108, are on standby. Instructions have been given to intensify efforts to identify the source," said a statement issued after a high-level review meeting held on Saturday. No new person with symptoms in Malappuram Meanwhile, Malappuram district health administration intensified the surveillance programme in various parts of four panchayats. A special team conducted inspections in 20 wards of Makkaraparamba, Kuruva, Koottilangadi and Mankada panchayats. According to health authorities, more than 60 special health squads visited 1,655 houses in these panchayats on Saturday. No individuals with symptoms were identified in the survey conducted in these regions. With the confirmation of Nipah virus presence, four panchayats have already been declared as containment zones. Restrictions are in place in various wards of these panchayats. Authorities informed that in the containment zones, public gatherings should be avoided, wearing masks in public places is mandatory, gatherings should be minimised, commercial establishments are allowed to operate only from 8am to 6pm and educational institutions should remain closed. Awareness campaigns were conducted about Nipah prevention methods.
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Nipah virus: 425 people under observation as Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode put on high alert
As many as 425 people entered the contact lists of two Nipah-infected persons in Kerala — 228 of them in Malappuram district, 110 in Palakkad and 87 in Kozhikode. The health machinery across these districts have been put on high alert as the Health department is battling to prevent the spread of Nipah. While an adolescent girl from Makkaraparamba near Malappuram succumbed to the deadly virus on June 1, a 38-year-old woman from Thachanattukara in Palakkad district is battling for life at Moulana Hospital in Perinthalmanna. Twelve persons are currently undergoing treatment in Malappuram — five of them in intensive care unit. However, one of them tested negative for the infection. The results of the others are awaited. In Palakkad, one person who came in contact with the infected woman is being treated in isolation. Of the 110 people in the contact list in Palakkad, 61 are health workers. In Kozhikode, all 87 on the list are health workers. The Health Department will soon begin a fever survey of houses within 3-km radius of the infected persons at Makkaraparamba and Thachanattukara. Health Minister Veena George on Saturday said that psychological assistance should be given to those on the contact lists. Meanwhile, the Health Department intensified its efforts to find the source of the Nipah virus that infected the two persons. Health officials began a surveillance in 20 wards of Makkaraparamba, Kuruva, Koottilangadi and Mankada panchayats in Malappuram district, and six wards of Thachanattukara and Karimpuzha panchayats in Palakkad district. Sixty-five teams of health officials visited 1,655 houses in Malappuram. They found none with the symptoms of the infection. People were advised to remain cautious. Deputy district medical officer N.N. Pameeli, technical assistants C.K. Suresh Kumar and M. Shahul Hameed, and epidemiologist D. Kiran Raj led the survey. A 10-year-old boy, a relative of the Nipah-infected woman at Thachanattukara, was hospitalised with high fever. Doctors said they were closely monitoring his condition. Palakkad District Collector Priyanka G. warned people against violating the regulations in the containment zones. A 24x7 control room was opened to deal with the situation, and 26 outbreak response committees were formed by including specialist doctors of Government Medical College, Palakkad, and senior government officials. Also read: Nipah restrictions in 20 wards in Malappuram, 6 in Palakkad For the health officials in Malappuram district, the Nipah protocols are familiar as the district had witnessed three back-to-back Nipah cases within a year. While a 14-year-old boy died of Nipah infection near Pandikkad on July 21, 2024, a 24-year-old man died at Wandoor two months later. In May this year, a 42-year-old woman from Valanchery tested positive. Although she survived the deadly virus, she is yet to completely recover.
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- The Hindu
Vacancy of senior resident doctors emerges as a concern at Kozhikode MCH
Vacancies of senior resident (SR) doctors have reportedly emerged as another concern at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Kozhikode, which is already hit by the shortage of staff doctors and house surgeons. SRs are doctors who have completed their postgraduate courses, such as Doctor of Medicine (MD). Along with house surgeons – medical graduates who have completed their course and are doing their mandatory internship – and postgraduate students, they offer valuable service to the medical college hospital systems. According to reliable sources, the Department of General Medicine at the Kozhikode MCH has vacancies for seven SRs. Of the 10 posts, only three are at present working there. From the Department of Surgery, one SR has been posted in the plastic surgery section on a temporary basis. The Department of Gynaecology has two vacancies, the Department of Pulmonary Medicine has one vacancy, and the Department of Anaesthesia has three vacancies. There is a shortage of SRs in super-speciality departments as well, with the Department of Emergency Medicine reporting a vacancy of two. This is also one of the results of the transfer of SRs from here to other government medical college hospitals in Manjeri, Wayanad, and Kasaragod, ahead of the inspection by the National Medical Commission. It has also been alleged that those who have cleared MD from here are getting posted as SRs elsewhere. The sources say that this situation is putting extra pressure on final-year postgraduate students, who are also appearing for their exams now. Along with this come the arrangements in wards for admitting patients with suspected Nipah symptoms. Meanwhile, the hospital authorities' attempt to appoint non-academic junior resident doctors (NAJR) - MBBS graduates who have completed their course, but are not doing any PG course – through a walk-in interview has received a lukewarm response. The sources claim that only three or four persons attended the interview for the purpose held on July 4. The applicants are learnt to be blaming the lack of clarity on duty timings and postings in the interview notification for the poor response. The authorities tried to take in NAJRs in view of the culmination of the tenure of the 2019 batch of around 240 house surgeons. A new batch is yet to join duty. Though the Directorate of Medical Education approved the appointment of 120 NAJRs, only around 45 people appeared willing to join duty. Even among them, many postponed their joining date up to July 20, citing academic commitments.
