Jharkhand Health dept issues Nipah advisory, directs districts to intensify surveillance
Ranchi (PTI): The Jharkhand Health department has issued an advisory, directing all district civil surgeons to step up measures against Nipah virus in the wake of two confirmed cases in neighbouring West Bengal, an official said on Friday.
Though no confirmed case has been reported in Jharkhand so far, the movement of people from affected areas poses a potential risk, he said.
"Given the highly infectious nature of the disease and its high mortality rate, the department stressed the need for constant surveillance," Additional Chief Secretary, Health department, Ajoy Kumar said.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease primarily transmitted from bats to humans and animals. The infection can spread through consumption of fruits or raw date palm sap contaminated with bat saliva or urine, as well as through close contact with infected individuals and their bodily fluids, the department added.
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The advisory listed symptoms such as high fever, headache, dizziness, cough, breathing difficulty, sore throat, altered mental status, and severe neurological complications, including seizures and coma.
"Districts are directed to strengthen screening and surveillance, particularly of individuals arriving from Nipah-affected regions, to prevent and control any potential outbreak. All suspected cases must be promptly reported to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP)," it said.
"Patients showing severe symptoms or respiratory distress must be immediately isolated and referred for advanced medical care," it added.
It also mandated strict adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols in all healthcare facilities.
The public was urged not to eat fallen fruits or consume raw date palm sap or toddy, to avoid unnecessary close contact with individuals, and to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear, the advisory said.
Meanwhile, the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here has kept 22 beds in an isolation ward ready, an official told PTI.
Earlier, on January 13, the state's health department had sounded an alert and issued a set of guidelines regarding surveillance and public awareness.
Nipah virus is a notifiable disease with high mortality and the potential for rapid spread, requiring immediate reporting to the Central government.
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Voting begins for Assam's 126 assembly seats
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Guwahati (PTI): Polling for all 126 Assam assembly constituencies began on Thursday to decide the electoral fate of 722 candidates, officials said.
In the high-stakes election, the ruling BJP is aiming for a third consecutive term in office, while the Congress seeks to wrest power after being ousted in 2016.
Polling, being held in a single phase, began at 7 am and will conclude at 5 pm. Long queues of voters were seen outside polling stations from early morning.
An electorate of 2.50 crore, including 1.25 crore women and 318 from the third gender, can exercise their franchise in 31,490 polling stations across the state.
Prominent candidates include Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Congress state president Gaurav Gogoi, assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, Leader of the opposition Debabrata Saikia, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi, and Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi.
Several cabinet ministers, including the AGP’s Atul Bora and Keshav Mahanta, and the BPF’s Charan Boro are also in the fray.
The Congress has the highest of 99 contestants, followed by the BJP (90), AIUDF (30), NDA allies AGP (26) and BPF (11).
Opposition alliance’s Raijor Dal is contesting in 13, AJP in 10, CPI(M) in 3 and APHLC in 2. Outside the two coalitions, the AAP is contesting in 18 seats, UPPL in 18, TMC 22, JMM 16 and there are 258 independents.
The ruling NDA’s main constituents are the BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodo Peoples’ Front (BPF) while the opposition alliance comprises the Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), CPI(M), All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) and CPI(ML).
The counting of votes is scheduled on May 4.
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