Nipah virus: DK district admn taking precautionary steps

With 10 people dying of Nipah virus in neighbouring Kerala, Dakshina Kannada district Health department has startedtaking precautionary measures as many persons from that state come here and elsewere in the district for treatment of various ailments.

District Health and Family Welfare officer DrRamakrishna Rao said if symptoms of the disease were found anywhere, blood samples would be immediately sent tothe Manipal Centre for Virus Research for tests.

The virus has so far claimed 10 lives in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in north Kerala, while the condition of two persons undergoing treatment for the viral disease is said to be critical.

Several patiennts from Kerala come to hospitals hereand elsewhere in the district for treatment for various ailments, health department officials said.

District Survey Officer Dr Rajesh said there was no vaccine or specific treatment for thevirus and antivirus medicines used for infectiousdiseases like H1N1 are currently being administered to suchpatients in Kerala.

Officials have advised people not to eat fruits fallen from trees as the disease is mostly spread by bats.

In Kerala,three of a family who died of the disease, had reportedly consumed fruits bitten by bats.

Other domestic animals canalso be carriers of the virus.

No one had so far been admitted to hospitals in Dakshina Kannada district with symptoms of the disease, officials said, adding that hospitals had been asked to keep a close watch on thesituation and take preventive and precautionary measures.