Nipah outbreak in Kerala; Karna govt on alert

With Nipahvirus deaths being reported from neighbouring Kerala, the Karnatakagovernment today directed eight districts, some of them bordering that state, to compulsorilysubmit a 'daily outbreak report'.

The eight districts are Chamarajnagar, Mysuru, Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru, an official press release said.

These districts either share their borders with Kerala or havea large number of people from Kerala travelling to these districts.

The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme ofthe Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services said those travelling to Nipah affected areas should be screened for 18 days.

The eight districts should have two isolation beds to quarantine suspected human cases and necessary logistics should be made available there.

Hospitals in these districts, which have ICU with ventilators, should be identified and kept ready to receive emergency cases, the release said.

The department also directed districtadministrations to sensitise health assistants and ASHA workers, it said.

It has also listed out dos and don'ts to health care personnel to strictly adhere to while dealing withsuch cases.

The Nipah virus has so far claimed 10 lives in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in north Kerala.