In the wake of the Nipah virus outbreak in Kozhikode district, the District Collector declared holidays for all educational institutions including Anganwadis, Madrasas, tuition centres including professional colleges on September 16, in addition to the two-day holiday already declared for September 14 and September 15.
Meanwhile, the university and PSC exam schedules remain unchanged.
“All tuition centres and coaching centres in the district should not function on these days. Educational institutes can arrange online classes. These days should not be an occasion for celebrations. Avoid unnecessary travel and gatherings. Caution is prevention”, said the Kozhikode DC A Geetha in her Facebook post.
Meanwhile, in view of the Nipah virus infection in Kozikode District, a 24-hour control room has been set up in the neighboring district Wayanad. The Wayanad district administration has constituted 15 core committees to effectively deal with emergency situations by leading infection prevention and monitoring activities.
The government said that the form of the virus found in the state is similar to the form of the virus present in Bangladesh which spreads from human to human and its mortality rate is high. Although this virus is less contagious. State Health Minister Veena George had said that the condition of all the 76 people falling in the high-risk category is stable.
Nipah Virus Symptoms in 13 people
The government said that moderate symptoms have been seen in 13 other people who have been kept under observation in the hospital. Of the infected, only a nine-year-old child has been kept in the intensive care unit. The government said that monoclonal antibodies have been sought from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for the treatment of the child. This is the only available anti-viral treatment for Nipah virus infection but it is not yet clinically proven. In view of the infection with the brain-damaging virus, a review meeting was also organized under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Health Minister gave this advice to the people
George said that the situation was thoroughly analyzed in the high level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister. He said, “We have come to the conclusion that there are possible measures to prevent infection and there is no need to panic.” The minister had also said that studies by the World Health Organization (WHO) and ICMR have revealed that.
It has come to light that there is a danger of this type of infection spreading not only in Kozhikode but in the entire state of Kerala. According to George, people living in forest areas will have to exercise utmost caution as the latest case of Nipah virus was reported within five kilometers of the forest area.
Apart from the wards declared on Tuesday in Kozhikode district, four more wards – three in Vilyapalli Panchayat and one ward in Purmeri Panchayat were declared as containment zones yesterday. In view of the serious nature of the disease, the Kozhikode administration on Tuesday quarantined seven gram panchayats, Atancherry,
