Nipah scare: Tamil Nadu districts bordering Kerala put on high alert

The spread of the Nipah virus (NiV) in Kerala has triggered panic in the border districts, with people worried that the virus might spread to their neighbourhood as well.

However, officials assured that there is no spread of NiV in Tamil Nadu and all hospitals have been put on high alert. Sivakumar, Deputy Director (Health), Tirunelveli district, said all government hospitals in Tenkasi, Sengottai and Courtallam were on high alert and doctors have been asked to quarantine patients with fever symptoms.

Also, doctors have been asked to send blood samples of patients with fever for lab tests as the Nipah infection is similar to brain fever, he said.

Kanniyakumari Collector Prashant M Vadnere said there is no instance of Nipah in the district and people in border areas need not believe in rumours.

The government machinery is monitoring the situation. He said if there is fever, people should not self-medicate and should immediately get admitted in a hospital. The Nipah virus fever is an epidemic and all steps have been taken to counter it, though there is no medicine available, said the Collector.

Over 650 hospitals, including public health centres, government and private medical facilities, in the three border districts have been issued alerts regarding the spread of the virus and the preventive measures to be undertaken.