Latest news with #V.R.Vinod
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Nipah restrictions in 20 wards in Malappuram, 6 in Palakkad
Health authorities in the State have intensified the vigil against the spread of the deadly Nipah virus following the detection of one case each in Malappuram and Palakkad districts. Palakkad District Collector G. Priyanka on Friday (July 4) declared six wards in Thachanattukara and Karimpuzha grama panchayats as containment zones after a 38-year-old woman from Thachanattukara tested positive for Nipah. She is battling for life at a private hospital at Perinthalmanna. Malappuram Collector V.R. Vinod declared 20 wards in Makkaraparamba, Koottilangadi, Kuruva and Mankada panchayats as containment zones. An adolescent girl from Chettiyarangadi near Makkaraparamba, who died in Kozhikode on July 1, tested positive for Nipah. Residents within a 3-km radius of the infected persons' houses have been advised to avoid gatherings. They have to wear N-95 masks when venturing out. People in Malappuram and Palakkad districts have been advised to avoid crowding as well as visiting patients in hospitals. Educational institutions in containment areas, including anganwadis, tuition centres and madrasas, will remain closed. Shops can function from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Health Minister Veena George, after reviewing the situation at a high-level meeting of health officials on Friday evening, said that 345 people were on the contact list of the Nipah-affected persons. She warned people against disturbing or driving away bats from their colonies. In Malappuram, 211 people are on the contact list. In Palakkad, 91 people are on the contact list and in Kozhikode, 43 people are on the list. Those on the contact list should remain in quarantine. All the 43 persons in Kozhikode are healthcare workers. Health workers in Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts are working overtime to prepare the route map of the Nipah affected persons and to trace their contacts. Both the persons reportedly developed symptoms of Nipah on June 25 and 26. Health staff will collect three weeks' data from Thachanattukara (in Palakkad district) and Chettiyarangadi near Mankada (in Malappuram district) and will investigate if anyone there had died due to encephalitis or pneumonia in June. The district administration has taken over two floors (sixth and eighth) of Government Medical College, Palakkad, as part of its preparedness to fight the Nipah spread. People have been asked to exercise vigil against Nipah, whose symptoms include fever with severe headache, fatigue, sore throat, muscle pain, vomiting, breathing difficulties, paralysis, blurred vision, mental disorientation, seizures, and loss of consciousness. Caregivers and those in close contact with people showing such symptoms should use N95 masks and gloves as the virus spreads through bodily fluids. People have been warned against consuming fruit and vegetables partly eaten by birds or animals. Ms. Priyanka cautioned the public against disturbing or chasing away bats, warning that stressed bats may produce more bodily fluids, potentially increasing the risk of virus transmission.
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nilambur byelection: Campaigning to end at 6 p.m. on June 17
Campaigning for the June 19 Assembly byelection in Nilambur will come to a raucous conclusion at 6 p.m. on Tuesday (June 17). Public meetings, mic announcements, use of electronic media for electioneering, musical and other entertainment programmes will be banned in the constituency from Tuesday evening (June 17). According to Section 126(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, election campaigning must cease 48 hours before the polling time. District Collector V.R. Vinod, who is the District Election Officer, has ordered that political workers and leaders from outside of Nilambur should leave the constituency soon after 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The Election Commission has banned carrying mobile phones into polling booths. The District Collector appealed to the voters not to bring mobile phones to the polling booths. The Collector has also asked different agencies, including the Public Works department, Kerala Water Authority, and the KSEB, to not dig roads as part of their work within the constituency neighbouring areas until June 23, the day of the election results. The temporary ban on digging is to prevent potential damage to BSNL's internet and telephone infrastructure, which is crucial for the smooth conduct of the election.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
9 wards in Valanchery, Marakkara, Edayur, Athavanand made containment zones
Nine wards in four local bodies were declared containment zones in the wake of a woman from Valanchery contracting Nipah virus. District Collector V.R. Vinod declared Thonikkal (division 1), Thaniyappan Kunnu (division 2), Kakkattupara (division 3) and Kavumpuram (division 4) of the Valanchery municipality as containment zones. Besides, Marakkara panchayat's Majeed Kand (ward 9), Malayil (ward 11) and Neeradi (ward 12), Edayur panchayat's Valarthapadi (ward 17) and Athavanad panchayat's Karipol (ward 6) were also declared containment zones. People have been proscribed from gathering in these wards. Shops and business establishments will be allowed to work from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Madrasas and anganwadis in those wards will remain closed. However, medical shops will be exempted from the restrictions. Mr. Vinod advised people across the district to wear masks when they go out of their homes and to avoid crowding. Students and teachers were asked to wear masks in tuition centres. District Medical Officer R. Renuka advised people to approach a registered medical practitioner when they develop signs of fever and other symptoms. 'Never eat fruits bitten by birds, bats or any other animals,' said Dr. Renuka. 'Avoid visiting patients in hospitals now,' she said. People can contact the control room at 0483-2736320 or 0483-2736326 for Nipah-related queries
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Preventive measures ramped up as Nipah patient remains critical
The Health department has ramped up preventive measures in and around Valanchery after a 42-year-old woman tested positive for Nipah virus. The woman remains critical at a private hospital in Perinthalmanna. A sample from a cat that died near the woman's house will be sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) lab in Bhopal for Nipah virus testing. Minister for Health Veena George has directed District Collector V.R. Vinod and District Medical Officer R. Renuka to initiate action under the Disaster Management Act and Public Health Act against people who refuse to share information with health officials. Ms. George said here on Friday that 49 people on the contact list of the Nipah affected woman were put under observation. Five of them have been isolated at Government Medical College Hospital at Manjeri, and a nurse from Ernakulam district who works at a Perinthalmanna hospital is also under isolation. However, all of them tested negative on Friday, providing relief to the State health team. As many as 12 of those under observation are the woman's close relatives. Ms. George said that 45 people, including the 12 family members, were in high risk category. Three of them were from the primary health centre at Valanchery, one from a doctor's clinic at Valanchery, 25 at the Perinthalmanna hospital, two from two laboratories at Valanchery and two from a medical shop at Valanchery. Four people in low risk category too are under observation, said the Minister. The district administration has made masks mandatory in places where people gather. The Health department has released a route map of the Nipah-affected woman's movements starting from April 25, when she developed fever. The Minister said that the Ente Keralam show being held at Kottakkunnu, Malappuram, would continue under strict guidelines. But the programmes of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Sports Minister V. Abdurahman to be held on May 12 and 10 respectively have been postponed. The Minister reviewed the situation at a meeting of officials and people's representatives at the Collectorate here on Friday. MLAs P. Ubaidullah, Abdul Hameed, Najeeb Kanthapuram and K.P.A. Majeed attended the meeting. MLAs Abid Husain Thangal, Kurukkoli Moideen and U.A. Latheef attended it in online mode. Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rajan N. Khobragade, District Collector V.R. Vinod, National Health Mission State director Vinay Goyal, Health department additional director K.P. Reetha, Disaster Management Deputy Collector Swati Chandramohan, and District Medical Officer R. Renuka were among those who attended the meeting.
