Nipah: Minister warns against breaking quarantine
Health Minister Veena George has issued a stern warning, directing those who have come in contact with the Nipah-infected woman from Valanchery to strictly adhere to a 21-day quarantine in spite of testing negative for the virus.
Ms. George cautioned people against complacency and warned that the situation should not be taken lightly even in the absence of new cases. She pointed out Nipah's high-priority status globally and the strict national and State protocols in place to combat the viral infection.
Meanwhile, the condition of the 42-year-old woman infected with Nipah continued to be critical on Wednesday. She has been in coma in the intensive care unit of EMS Memorial Cooperative Hospital, Perinthalmanna.
Health officials completed their fever survey by covering 4,749 houses within 3-km radius of the Nipah patient's house at Valanchery.
As many as 166 people were in quarantine as they had come in contact with the patient after she developed symptoms on April 25. While 65 of them were in high risk, 101 were in low risk.
The Minister asked them to remain in quarantine for 21 days even if they tested negative for Nipah. They were advised to avoid travel and interactions with others. Those violating the quarantine guidelines would be penalised, said an official statement here.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
16 hours ago
- The Hindu
Health dept. reiterates steps to prevent COVID-19 transmission
The Health department has reiterated the public health alert that people take adequate personal protection to prevent themselves from contracting COVID-19. Masking in public places as well as in closed spaces like auditoriums are important to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, especially since the LF.7, the new variant in circulation, which is a sublineage of Omicron, is highly transmissible. The OP clinics and emergency rooms in many hospitals have begun to show an uptick in the number of people coming with respiratory infections. Though most are mild cases, cases with secondary bacterial infections, requiring antibiotics, have also been going up. Testing has gone up in both private sector as well as public sector hospitals, following a Health department directive that all cases with respiratory symptoms be tested so that influenza cases (which can benefit from early treatment with antivirals) can be separated from COVID-19 cases. Masking must in hospitals Masking and maintaining cough etiquette are extremely important to prevent disease transmission. Masking is mandatory in hospitals so that they do not turn into transmission centres for COVID-19. All hospitals have also been instructed to strictly adhere to infection control practices. Pregnant women and people with comorbidities, especially uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension, should take the masking mandate seriously, Health Minister Veena George said here. Testing goes up She said that COVID-19 cases are going up in Kerala because testing has been increased across districts. According to the Health ministry's data, of the 6,491 active cases in the country (as on June 9), 1,957 are in Kerala. However, only about 80 persons are hospitalised, Ms. George said. The Health authorities are keeping a close watch on hospitalisations and ICU admissions across districts and these seem to be stable, officials said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
New lab diagnoses amoebic brain fever, a first in state
T'puram: In a significant development, the state confirmed its first case of amoebic meningoencephalitis through the newly established molecular lab in the state. Health Minister Veena George announced that the diagnosis was made as part of a dedicated effort to detect amoebic brain fever, a rare but often fatal condition. State public health lab (SPHL) earlier set up a PCR lab capable of detecting five types of amoebae known to cause brain fever in humans — Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba sp., Vermamoeba vermiformis, Balamuthia mandrillaris, and Paravahlkampfia francinae. The first confirmed detection was of Acanthamoeba, which was successfully identified and verified through this new facility. Previously, such cases were confirmed at PGI Chandigarh. With in-state confirmation now possible, the minister said it would greatly aid both treatment and research efforts. The minister further said that state has been implementing model interventions in the prevention of amoebic meningoencephalitis. Globally, the disease has a mortality rate of 97%, but Kerala reduced this to 23% through systematic efforts and timely, effective treatment. This success was achieved through structured actions and prompt care. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pinga-Pinga e HBP? Tome isso 1x ao dia se tem mais de 40 anos Portal Saúde do Homem Clique aqui Undo State also updated its action plan based on the 'One Health' approach to enhance prevention strategies against amoebae. A comprehensive action plan has been prepared to manage the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the disease. All suspected cases of brain fever in state are now directed to undergo tests for amoebic meningoencephalitis. In addition to SPHL, the microbiology departments of Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode medical colleges will be developed as specialized centres for diagnosing the disease. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
643cr cabinet nod for organ transplant institute
T'puram: The cabinet meeting on Thursday gave administrative sanction of Rs 643.88cr (inclusive of GST) for the Kozhikode Institute of Organ and Tissue Transplant based on the detailed project report submitted by the implementing agency, said health minister Veena George. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The transplant institute is being established to bring all activities related to under one roof. It will be a specialised institution comprising trained doctors, scientists, and healthcare workers. Construction activities for the transplant institute will commence soon, and steps have already been taken to procure equipment, the minister said. The institute will facilitate treatment, education, training, research, and organ donation activities related to organ transplantation. It is designed to provide comprehensive care, from treating organ damage to transplantation surgery and rehabilitation, she added. The transplant institute will be set up on 20 acres in Chevayur, Kozhikode. It will have four blocks with six floors each, including 219 general beds, 42 special ward beds, 58 ICU beds, 83 high dependency unit (HDU) beds, 16 operation rooms, a dialysis centre, and a transplantation research centre, totalling 510 beds in a modern hospital setup. In the first phase, 330 beds and 10 operating theatres will be prepared, followed by 180 beds and six operating theatres in the second phase. The first phase will have 14 specialty departments, and the second phase will add seven more. There is a strong emphasis on education, with a target to start 31 academic courses. The centre will facilitate the transplantation of corneas, kidneys, liver, intestines, pancreas, heart, lungs, bone marrow, soft tissue, hands, and bones. Currently, organ transplant surgeries are conducted at Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, and Kozhikode medical colleges, as well as Ernakulam general hospital in the state. The govt has formed Kerala state organ and tissue transplant organization (K-SOTTO) to coordinate organ donation activities. The establishment of the transplant institute aims to set a benchmark in this field.
