Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 22: A sense of urgency, caution and apprehension is encompassing Dakshina Kannada district at the loss of life inflicted in Kerala by the deadly Nipah virus that is very rare and for which no proper vaccine or treatment has been found so far.

Reports say that ten persons including a nurse who was treating patients affected by Nipah virus have died in Kerala. The information that no patient affected by the said virus has been admitted into any of the hospitals in the district so far has come as a relief. But the worry looms in the minds of the people land health department officials as lot of people from Kerala visit the city for treatment and other reasons on a daily basis. The district health department accordingly has asked hospitals to keep a close watch on the situation and take preventive and precautionary steps against the disease.

As there is no specific treatment for this disease, district survey officer, Dr Rajesh, said that antivirus medicines used for infectious diseases like H1N1 are currently administered to such patients. Health department has called for a meeting on May 22 in which this disease might be predominantly discussed.

The virus is said to spread through bats and pigs although other domestic animals can also be carriers of the virus. District health and family welfare officer, Dr Ramakrishna Rao said that if any symptoms of the disease are found anywhere, blood samples would be immediately sent to MCER Manipal for testing the presence of virus.

The officials have advised people not to eat fruits which have fallen from the trees in this season of fruits as the chances of spread of the disease is more when people consume fruits that have already been bitten by bats.