A bus stop will be constructed at Perambra Taluk Hospital in honour of nurse Lini Puthussery, Kerala’s Minister of Labour and Excise TP Ramakrishnan announced on Monday. Nurse Lini had succumbed to the Nipah virus after having attended to other patients.
The minister announced the decision while speaking at an inauguration ceremony in the hospital. He further added that the bus stop would serve as a way to honour her memory. Proceedings are currently underway to set up a special ward under her name at the hospital as well.
On her deathbed, Nurse Lini had written a letter to her husband which went viral on social media, evoking an emotional response from many.
Nurse Lini was on duty during the vicious Nipah virus outbreak earlier this year in May, which affected various parts of the state — of which Kozhikode district was the epicentre. The virus spread quickly and claimed 17 lives.
The state government had earlier offered her husband a government job and Rs 10 lakh for each of her two sons as financial assistance. The World Health Organization (WHO) too had recognized her for her efforts.
Quick action on part of several health department officials played a significant role in containing the virus.
Nipah virus is spread through fruit bats. The first documented outbreak took place in Malaysia in 1998, though authorities at the time stated that domesticated pigs were the primary host and not bats.
Following the outbreak in Kerala, several people were quarantined to assess for any trace of symptoms of Nipah. On June 4, Kerala state health department officials made a formal announcement stating that no new cases of the infection had been reported since May 17 and that the virus had been contained.