Nipah scare: Alert Tamil Nadu sets up special wards in GHs

Special wards have been formed at government hospitals in Madurai, Coimbatore and the Nilgiris that share borders with Kerala. CMCH Dean B Asokan said that a 30-bedded special ward has been kept ready and a doctor’s team has been formed to provide round-the-clock treatment. At Pollachi GH, a ten-bedded special ward has been formed as the hospital receives a steady number of people from Palakkad and Thrissur in Kerala coming in for treatment.

Heightened activity like spraying disinfectants in the VOC Zoological Park in Coimbatore-which has a large population of fruit-eating bats-was also performed.

To allay the fears of visitors, zoo staff in Coimbatore involved in sanitising the entire premises using bleaching powder.

All vehicles entering through Walayar and Pollachi were stopped and disinfectants were sprayed on the tyres and on the outer body. Similarly, vehicles entering the Nilgiris from Kerala were also sanitised.

Nilgiris Collector J Innocent Divya, who inspected the check-posts, told media that medical teams have been stationed at seven such posts in the district and that they were screening tourists for any Nipah symptoms. The Collector also issued handouts to tourists.

With Kanniyakumari being the southern-most district in the State and it adjoining Kerala, fever cases are being specially monitored in the hospitals across the district, District Collector Prashant M. Wadnere said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a special ward has been opened in Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital to treat any patient showing symptoms of Nipah virus. K. Vanitha, Dean at the GRH, said the ward with thirty-three beds would have all necessary facilities, with seven beds set up in the initial phase. The Health department has urged the public showing symptoms such as fever, headache, drowsiness, respiratory trouble and disorientation to avail treatment in government hospitals.

Though there is no incident of Nipah virus in the State so far, such precautionary measures are being taken as a significant number of people travel between Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where the deadly virus is spreading fast.

In the wake of the State Health department issuing an alert in seven districts across Tamil Nadu on Nipah virus, people travelling from Kerala to the State are being screened at medical camps along the border districts. Inquiries on the disease are also being received from the public via the 104-health information helpline.    

While Health secretary Beela Rajesh said that there are no suspected cases of the fever in the State so far, she added, “The screening of people travelling from Kerala is only a part of a precautionary measure to prevent any cases in the State. There is no situation to panic”.

Every passenger is being screened for any symptoms of Nipah and those suspected to show symptoms will be examined further at the check-post camps near the borders, Health department officials said.

The State Health department issued an alert in the districts of Kanniyakumari, the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Ooty, Dindigul, Tirunelveli, and Theni on Wednesday after a 23-year-old student from Ernakulam in Kerala tested positive for Nipah. As per reports, the total number of suspected cases in Kerala has risen to seven from an earlier five on Tuesday. The samples of the patients have been sent for examination and the patients are being monitored.

Meanwhile, a total of 112 people called the 104-health information helpline to inquire on various issues related to Nipah virus after the alert was issued in the State. “Most of the callers inquired about the symptoms of Nipah, preventive measures to be taken, signs to identify the infection, and steps to control the same,” said Zilani Basha, the call-centre operations manager.

With Kanniyakumari being the southern-most district in the State and also adjoining Kerala, District Collector Prashant M. Wadnere on Thursday enumerated the steps being taken to prevent the spread of the Nipah virus in the district.  

Having a total of 12 government hospitals and 150 private healthcare institutions across the district, fever cases are being specially monitored, the Collector said. With the district having migrants moving into Kerala, healthcare professionals are being on alert along the border areas such as Melpuram, Thiruvattar and Killiyur. Collector Wadnere advised people to be more careful while consuming fruits, since the Nipah virus is reported to be transmitted through bats. One should hence not consume fruits pecked by bats or squirrels. Personal hygiene is highly important and hand washing at regular intervals-before and after having food-is essential at this point of time, Wadnere said. He also added that fever cases reported in the district have been normal so far.