Malappuram District Collector Amit Meena has appealed to the public to ‘avoid shopping sprees’ and crowded areas. The statement came as a precautionary message after it came to light that 4 people were confirmed to have contracted Nipah virus in the district.
“This is just a general advisory we are giving to people, we want to contain the infection to the best of our abilities and given that there is the possibility of it being spread from another person, we want to reduce the chance of that happening, hence we are telling people to avoid crowded spaces,” he told TNM.
Sixteen people have lost their lives to the Nipah virus in the last two weeks and one before. The government has assured that health officials had the crisis in control and 1407 people have been put under house quarantine. These are people who have had some contact with those who have been infected by the virus.
In a circular issued by the Bishop of Thamarassery Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil, the devotees of the East Syrian Catholic church in Thamarassery diocese of Kozhikode district have been asked to receive the holy communion in the hand. Usually, the holy communion is received on the tongue. The devotees have been asked to follow this until further notice is issued.
Also, the Bishop has exhorted the devotees to postpone baptisms, weddings, and holy blessings.
Kozhikode district has been the epicenter of the Nipah virus breakout.
The Catechism classes which were scheduled to start on June 3 have been postponed to June 10.
He has suggested to his diocese members to avoid family get-togethers, travels and celebrations till the current situation of Nipah infection subsides.
He said these measures are being taken to prevent the transmission of the virus. The bishop has also asked people to strictly follow preventive measures which the state and district health officials have put out.
The circular comes in the wake of the possible second wave of Nipah infection.
According to Dr Jayasree, Kozhikode District Medical Officer, “As of May 31, the total number of confirmed cases stands at 18, out of this 16 have died. This death toll does not reflect Sadik’s death. 2 confirmed cases are under treatment. The number of suspected cases is 11. So far 1407 people are in the contact list.”
“The health officials periodically call them to check if they have developed symptoms. If they have, they are immediately brought to the hospital. Ambulances have been arranged in case anyone needs to be shifted to hospitals,” Rajeev Sadanand, Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), the government of Kerala told TNM.
Apart from this, a few medical staff from the Balussery Taluk hospital in Kozhikode district who had been in contact with Nipah virus victims have also been placed on house quarantine.
The state wants to prevent a second wave of infections, and is on high alert as new cases of death were reported.
“There is no need to panic. But anyone who has been in contact with patients needs to get themselves admitted if they are showing any symptoms,” said KK Shylaja, the Health Minister of the state.
She also added that they had expected a second round of infections and assured that the state was prepared for it.
To read more on incubation and disease transmission: Nipah Virus: Antibody to fight infection flown in from Australia