Nipah virus in Kerala: High alert sounded in Dakshina Kannada

Mangaluru: A high alert is sounded in the Dakshina Kannada district in the wake of Nipah virus infection in neighbouring Kerala and a boy succumbing to the disease on September 3.

Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner KV Rajendra appealed to people to be cautious and instructed the officials to take all necessary precautionary measures.

“A 12-year-old boy died of Nipah virus infection in Kozhikode district of Kerala on September 3. As Dakshina Kannada district shares its border with Kerala and a large number of people commute for health and education purposes, a Nipah alert has been announced, ” he said.

He said, “Nipah is a zoonotic virus which spreads from animals to humans and also transmitted directly between people. The symptoms include acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis besides fever, headache, cough and throat ache.”

DC further advised people to wash their hands frequently and stay away from bats and pigs that cause the spread of the virus. Also, avoid consuming fruits that were partly eaten by birds and animals.

He also instructed the health authorities to inform the health department immediately if any person was found experiencing symptoms of Nipah.