Six year-old Kerala boy dies of West Nile fever
Kozhikode: A six-year-old boy, who was undergoing treatment for vector-borne West Nile fever, died at a hospital here Monday.
Announcing the death, state Health Minister K K Shylaja said there was no need to panic and steps were being taken to prevent the spread of virus, transmitted to humans through a mosquito bite and is mostly reported in North America.
The boy, hailing from neighbouring Malappuram district, was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital here one week ago after he tested positive for the virus.
Shylaja said she had asked the Director of Health services to immediately intensify steps to prevent the spread of the virus.
"There is no need to panic and stringent steps are being taken to prevent its spread", she told reporters.
After the virus was reported in Malappuram, a special medical team had been deputed the area, she added.
The union health ministry had last week said that it had sent a four-member multi-disciplinary central team from National Centre for Disease Control to the state and was closely monitoring the situation.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda has directed that all support be extended to Kerala for prevention and management of the disease, it had said adding there were no reports so far about the spread of the virus in other parts of the country.
Symptoms of the virus infliction include cold, fever, fatigue and nausea.
There had been a case of West Nile fever last year in Kozhikode, which was confirmed by the Manipal Centre for Virus Research (MCVR), however, the National Institute of Virology had not yet confirmed it, official sources said here.
Malappuram district collector held a meeting with health officials this morning, they said.
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4 workers die after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad
Dhanbad (Jharkhand) (PTI): At least four workers died after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Moonidih coal washery in the command area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
"Bodies of all four workers were dug out of debris during a rescue operation," Putki police station in-charge Waqar Hussain told PTI.
The incident took place when coal slurry was being loaded into trucks by workers, during which a large chunk of slurry fell and trapped several workers underneath, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Manik Bauri, Dinesh Bauri, Deepak Bauri, and Hemlal Gope.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and local villagers placed the bodies in front of the washery gate and began a protest.
They demanded compensation, jobs for dependents and action against those responsible for the incident.
Police and administration officials are trying to pacify the protesters, an official said.
