Dr. Harsh Vardhan reviews public health measures in Kerala over Nipah Virus

New Delhi, June 4 (HS): Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday reviewed the public health measures in Kerala following the outbreak of the deadly Nipah Virus, after a 23 year-old man admitted in a private hospital in the southern state tested positive with the virus, officials said. Dr. Vardhan spoke to the Kerala Health Minister K.K.Shailaja and discussed the current situation and assured full support from the Centre over tackling the disease. The Central Health Minister spoke to her on Monday. Following the suspected case of a Nipah virus case by the National Institute of Virology, Pune an urgent meeting was convened early morning today by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan along with top health ministry officials at his residence in New Delhi, a spokesman from the Health Ministry said. On Monday, the Centre vigorously monitored the situation in Kerala by sending a team of six officers including doctors to the state to investigate the situation, cooperating with the state officials on controlling the epidemic. The Central Government had dispatched monoclonal antibodies to the state for treatment of the patients affected, Dr. Harsh Vardhan informed. Moreover, 86 people had been put under medical observation till now. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assured that the state government had taken a series of health measures to tackle the problem and said there was no reason to panic while alerting the people in the state to remain cautious and stay away from spreading rumours on social media. The Kerala Health and Welfare Minister K.K.Shailaja on Tuesday said that the state Government was fully equipped to deal with the situation. All the decisions are being based on our experience over the outbreak of Nipah virus in Kozhikode in May last year. A special isolation ward had been set up at the Ernakulam Medical College for suspected cases infected with the virus. It is noteworthy that, last year, 17 people died due to Nipah virus in Kerala’s Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. Nipah virus is transmitted from animals to human beings and then spreads from people-to-people contact causing respiratory illnesses. Its symptoms include high fever, muscle pain, headache, fever, dizziness and nausea.