Addressing the media regarding the suspected case of the Nipah virus, KK Shailaja, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare in the state, said that 86 persons, who were said to have interacted with the patient, have been put under medical observation.
“The Kerala government is ready to take all the necessary steps to tackle the virus. All decisions are being made based on our experience with the previous Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode in May 2018,” KK Shailaja said.
The Health Minister also requested the media to not spread panic among the people. “Let us all work together to overcome this crisis. Since there is precedence with the Kozhikode outbreak, we are confident that we will be able to take the right measures and fast. Even if it is Nipah, we have all protocols and measures in place to nip the outbreak,” said Shailaja.
According to the minister, the 23-year-old patient, who is suspected to have contracted Nipah, will continue being treated in the private hospital in Ernakulam, where he is currently admitted. By stating that a control room has been set up in Ernakulam district, the Health Minister also said that the officials are waiting for the test results from the Pune Virology Institute. “We will face whatever comes our way confidently. It is unlikely that there will be more cases,” she said.
A high level meeting was held at the Government Medical College in Kalamassery in Ernakulam on Monday, and participants included a team of medical professionals from Kozhikode who were part of treating the virus, when it hit the state last year. Also present at the meeting were K Mohammed Y Safirula, Ernakulam District Collector; S Suhas, Revenue Divisional Officer, Fort Kochi; Hibi Eden, Ernakulam MLA; C Raveendranath, State Education Minister; and PT Thomas, Thrikkakara MLA.
Note: Nipah control room numbers are 1077 and 1056. Call at any time for any matter related to the virus.