Thiruvananthapuram: The Health department on Thursday called for precautionary measures ahead of Nipah virus transmission season between December and June.
In a letter, additional chief secretary health Rajeev Sadanandan asked the director of health services and director of medical education to put in place precautionary measures in hospitals.
He said people need to be cautioned about consumption of fruits and vegetables. The warning has been issued particularly for fruits bitten by bats.
He directed doctors and staff at the primary, community health centres, taluk, district and general hospitals and medical colleges to take adequate precaution while treating patients with respiratory distress syndrome. The patients coming with symptoms of cough will be examined at “cough corner” in the hospitals. The authorities’ have been asked provide safety kits for staff handling such cases. However, experts said there was no need for panic about Nipah virus. In the event of fever accompanied with headache, one must consult a doctor. Staying home is advisable for those having fever, headache, respiratory infection at least till the infection subsides.
In Nipah virus the patient experiences dizziness, vertigo, abdominal pain and vomiting. Some of these symptoms are different from the viral infection. While body’s internal mechanism is effective in treating the disease and it provides antibodies to kill the virus, in serious infections one might require specialist care.
Nipah was in the news recently after a report in an international medical journal put Nipah death toll in the state at 21. This had , created confusion as it contradicted the official figure of 17 deaths.
Of the 17 Nipah deaths 14 were reported in Kozhikode and three in neighbouring Malappuram in May this year.
