KOZHIKODE: Nursing students at various hospitals are the most scared of Nipah virus as mortality rate is high and it could spread fast. Those who run women's hostels mainly housing nursing students say the inmates are either fleeing or shifting location. "Day by day more and more students are vacating as rumours of high casualties spread," said a hostel warden.
During the epidemic in Bangladesh, they say, there was massive evacuation and rehabilitation, which is not taking place here. "Even many doctors advised it would be better to stay away as there is no medicine for the viral fever so far," said a student. "As the window period is 4 to 14 days, even if one gets infected, it would take up to two weeks to show symptoms. By the time, they would have spread the disease to many more."
The trend is more visible at hostels close to two private hospitals treating Nipah-infected patients. Many nearby establishments have also closed. Meanwhile, Government Medical College has suspended MBBS classes till an announcement. The demand for masks is high in the medical shops near Medical College Hospital as well as in the city. The number of patient registrations has gone down at the MCH. Even those waiting in the queue use masks or face covers.
