Nipah virus: Two suspected cases reported in Mangaluru

Mangaluru: Two patients of suspected Nipah Virus (NiV) infection have been admitted in two different hospitals in Mangaluru. Dakshina Kannada district department of health and family welfare is on high alert and officials say that they are well prepared.

District Health Officer, Dr M Ramakrishna Rao said, “The suspected patients are not critical but have been treated at seclusion, and all preventive measures are in place to tackle the disease.”

Of the two suspected cases, one is from Kerala with travel history of visiting Kozhikode while another is a local person. Throat swab samples of the patients have been sent to Manipal Virus Research Center (MVRC) for testing and the report is expected by Thursday morning. If reports from MCVR show positive for Nipah Virus, samples will be sent again to National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for final confirmation.

“We have received reports that two patients, one hailing from Kerala and another local resident, are suspected to have the symptoms of NiV infection. While one patient is admitted in Government Wenlock Hospital, another has been admitted to a private hospital in the city. Both of them are in quarantine and their throat swabs have been collected for test to be conducted in MCVR,” he added.

The disease can be finalized only after tests are repeated in NIV, Pune. Currently, the test facility is available at MCVR in Manipal. The test costs around Rs 5,000 – 6,000. The department has plans to open such test facilities in Mangaluru too, he informed.

“The department is quite alert and messages have been sent to all government and private hospitals. Since hospitals in Mangaluru get large number of patients from Kerala, we have directed them to report immediately if they come across any suspected cases of Nipah Virus infection. Taluk hospitals and primary health centres too have been warned to be alert. We are in touch with doctors in all hospitals in the district. A dedicated WhatsApp group has been created for health department officials to share information on the disease. Currently, only symptomatic treatment is being given to patients,” he said.

“No hospitals should reject cases, if the patients have the symptoms of Nipah Virus. We have given strict instructions to hospitals to admit patients and give treatments in quarantine,” said Rao informing that the hospitals have been asked to treat patients in quarantine, but they should not be stigmatized.

Dr. Rao prescribed the following precautions to prevent contracting Nipah infection:

• People should avoid travelling to places where Nipah has been detected, unless necessary.
• People travelling to other places from Kerala and other infected areas should report immediately to the doctors or government hospital for treatment.
• Do not eat fruits half eaten by bats or any other animals. Even if you, do wash your hands properly.
• Maintain sanitary conditions at home. Wash hands before eating food or drink. Wash the fruits before consuming them.
• Do not consume toddy as it could be contaminated when left open on trees.
• People should not eat bats.
• Avoid eating fruits fallen from trees.