Dr Kafeel from Gorakhpur offers to help in Nipah virus crisis, Pinarayi accepts

In the wake of the Nipah Virus outbreak, Dr Kafeel tweeted offering to help at Calicut Medical College, CM Pinarayi Vijayan accepts.
Dr Kafeel from Gorakhpur offers to help in Nipah virus crisis, Pinarayi accepts
Dr Kafeel from Gorakhpur offers to help in Nipah virus crisis, Pinarayi accepts

As the Nipah Virus crisis strikes fear in the Kozhikode district of Kerala, Pediatrician and former Head of Encephalitis Ward of Baba Raghav Das Medical College, Dr Kafeel Khan, tweeted to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan offering to help out at Calicut Medical College.

“Disturbed with mortality due to Nipah Virus. I request Kerala Chief minister Mr Pinarayi Vijayan to allow me to serve at Calicut Medical College to save innocent lives. Sister Lini is an inspiration and I am more than willing to sacrifice my life for the noble cause. @vijayanpinarayi” said Dr Kafeel Khan’s tweet.

Dr Khan came to limelight during the Gorakhpur tragedy in 2017 after he went out of his way to save a number of children by obtaining oxygen cylinders following an oxygen supply shortage which led to the death of many children. Things took an unfortunate turn soon after when Dr Khan was removed from his post and arrested on charges of culpable homicide and corruption and spent 8 months in jail before receiving bail. Police dropped corruption charges on him due to lack of evidence.

The CM acknowledged the tweet in a Facebook post and accepted the offer.

In his Facebook post, the CM went on to acknowledge the efforts of people, including doctors and health care professionals, who’d come forward and volunteered during the crisis. He also requested of others who were keen to help to get in touch with the Director of Health Services or Superintendent of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

He further added that highly skilled Malayali doctors practicing outside Kerala had also reached Kozhikode to help people and on behalf of the people of Kerala extended his thanks to everyone through the post.

Kozhikode has been on high alert for the past few days since it was announced that there was an outbreak of the Nipah Virus (NiV). According to official reports the death toll has gone up to 10. On Sunday, the toll had risen to nine after six more people died after showing symptoms of the disease; two of these were reported from Kozhikode and four from Malappuram district.

It was reported on Monday that Lini Puthusshery, a nurse from EMS Memorial Cooperative Hospital in Perambra, had passed away after showing symptoms of possible Nipah virus infection. She had treated three infected persons and was under treatment herself after she fell ill but passed away in the early hours of Monday. Samples were sent for investigation, however, it is yet to be confirmed whether her death was indeed due to Nipah. After consulting the family, the authorities cremated the body at an electronic crematorium as a precautionary measure to ensure that the virus, if any present, does not spread further.

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