The 23-year-old youth, student of an engineering college at Thodupuzha, is under treatment at a private hospital in Kochi.
Kochi: A high alert was sounded in Ernakulam on Tuesday after a patient was found to have contracted the dreaded ‘Nipah’ virus infection. The 23-year-old youth, student of an engineering college at Thodupuzha, is under treatment at a private hospital in Kochi.
At least four persons, including three nurses who treated the youth initially and one of his friends, were shifted to the isolation ward of the Kalamassery Medical College after they exhibited symptoms like fever and sore throat.
The district health authorities have prepared a list of those who had close contact with the youth, a native of Ezhikkara, north Paravur. “So far we’ve prepared a list of 311 persons and all of them have been put under house quarantine to prevent any possible outbreak of the diseases,” a health official said.
The authorities have formed a 21-day action plan to be implemented at Ezhikkara block, including Vadekkekara panchayat from where the youth hails, to monitor the health of those under surveillance.
A special training was provided to all doctors and health staff of the Primary Health Centre of Ezhikkara on how to treat the suspected cases without being at risk of getting infected with the disease.
Employees of all government hospitals in the district would be given special training on Wednesday about the procedures to be followed while treating suspected patients or those exhibiting symptoms of the infection.
The epidemic prevention activities will be co-ordinated through the control room at Kakkanad collectorate. Health Minister K.K. Shailaja on Tuesday held a review meeting with the representatives of various departments to assess the progress of prevention activities.
“A direction has been given to the forest, labour and animal husbandry departments to maintain strict vigil. The latter should report all suspicious cases in animals in the last three weeks. The animal farms, especially of pigs, should be monitored on a continuous basis. A 24-hour control cell has been opened at district veterinary centre. Farmers can ring up ‘0484-2351264’ for any enquiries related to the infection,” the minister said.
The labour department should inspect labour camps and hold awareness programmes on the precautions to be taken for disease prevention. The ayurveda and homoeo departments should refer cases exhibiting high fever and other disease symptoms to allopathy.
A seven-member team from the centre led by Dr Ruchi Jain has reached Kochi and started disease prevention activities.
