No panic about Nipah in DK: DC
Mangaluru, May 24: Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil said that though the samples of phlegm or mucus of two persons were sent for laboratory test following the outbreak of Nipah virus in Kerala, they were found negative and there is no need to be panic about Nipah in Dakshina Kannada district.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, the DC said that on suspicion, the mucus of a Calicut Medical College employee who was admitted for treatment in Mangaluru and another patient was taken for the test. The virus would not spread in the air. It would affect others only with the close contact of the affected people. So, there is no need to be panic about the virus, he said.
The virus was found only in Calicut and all precautionary measures were taken there. As the treatment is being given separately for the virus infected people, there are hardly any chances of spreading this virus to other places, he said.
It was first found in Malaysia in 1999 and animals are the host of this virus. Later, it was found in Bangladesh. Unlike H1N1, this virus would neither spread in the air nor through water. Even though, the health department has taken all steps and directed all hospitals to check the spread of the disease. Fruits should be cleaned before consuming them. But if the fruits were found damaged by the birds, such fruits should be avoided. This virus would also spread through animals like pigs. So, those who work with the animals should maintain cleanliness, he said.
DHO Dr Ramakrishna Rao, malaria officer Dr Rajesh and Dr Kundar Pasha were present.
Don’t believe social media messages
People have been spreading false information and messages regarding Nipah virus in social media. But the admin of such social media platforms should not post any messages without confirming factual details from the concerned authorities. Even people also should not believe such messages. There is no need to get admitted to the hospital and get treatment for Nipah virus just for cold, fever and headache. This virus is found only in Calicut in Kerala and it was contained. So, people of the district can lead normal life without any panic, the DC said.
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Pakistan reports two more polio cases; Total tally now 52
ISLAMABAD: At least two more cases of poliovirus were reported in Pakistan, taking the number of infections to 52 so far this year, a report said on Friday.
“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of two more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in Pakistan," an official statement said.
The fresh infections — a boy and a girl — were reported from the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
“Genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the children is underway," the statement read. Dera Ismail Khan, one of the seven polio-endemic districts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has reported five polio cases so far this year.
Of the 52 cases in the country this year, 24 are from Balochistan, 13 from Sindh, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
There is no cure for polio. Only multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five can keep them protected.
