Kerala: Results of samples sent to Pune virology institute awaited to confirm Nipah virus presence
Kozhikode (PTI): After two "unnatural deaths" were reported from Kozhikode district, the Kerala government has sent five samples to the National Institute of Virology in Pune to test for the presence of the deadly Nipah virus.
A district-wide health alert was issued on Monday after two deaths were reported, suspected to be due to Nipah virus infection.
The samples sent for testing to the virology institute includes that of one of the deceased and four of his kin.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the government was viewing the two deaths seriously and the health department had issued an alert in the district over the suspicion that Nipah virus had caused the deaths.
He also said that there was no need to worry as most of those who were in close contact with the deceased were under treatment.
Earlier in the day, State Health Minister Veena George reached the district and chaired a high-level meeting to evaluate the situation and told the media the government was taking all precautionary steps in case the results showed the presence of Nipah virus.
She informed that the contact tracing of the deceased persons has been initiated to identify high-risk contacts.
"At this moment, we have taken all the precautionary steps based on suspicion that the death may be due to Nipah virus. We have conducted preliminary tests here. But it can be confirmed only after the samples are tested at Pune NIV," she said.
She also said the first death occurred at a private hospital and victim's children, brother and his kin are also currently under treatment for fever.
The minister further said numerous persons visited the hospital and contact tracing had begun.
The Health department has instructed to set up an isolation centre at Kozhikode Medical College hospital and to increase human resources accordingly.
Deaths due to Nipah virus infection were reported in Kozhikode district in 2018 and 2021.
The first Nipah virus outbreak in south India was reported from Kozhikode on May 19, 2018.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted to people from animals and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person-to-person.
Among infected people, it causes a range of illnesses, from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis.
The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers, according to WHO.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
