Bengaluru: The Karnataka health department has intensified its surveillance measures following the recent death of a Bengaluru student in Kerala, which has been confirmed as a Nipah virus case.

The deceased, a 24-year-old postgraduate student at an institute in Soladevanahalli on the outskirts of Bengaluru, hailed from Malappuram. A team from the health department’s disease surveillance unit visited the institute and confirmed that 32 students and staff attended the funeral of the youth, as reported by Deccan Herald.

Health officials from Chikkabanavara and Gopalpura primary health centres have been actively involved in monitoring and following up with primary and secondary contacts. Dr Ansar Ahmed, Project Director of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP), told the publication that contact tracing is underway, with two primary contacts in Bengaluru currently asymptomatic. The department remains on high alert and is implementing precautionary measures.

Karnataka health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stated that although there is concern about the Nipah virus, there is no need to panic. He confirmed that, as of now, no Nipah virus cases have been suspected or reported in Karnataka.

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New Delhi, Nov 21: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday launched the Karnataka Milk Federation's (KMF) Nandini brand milk products in the Delhi-NCR market, pricing them marginally lower than competitors to gain a foothold in the region.

The cooperative will retail four cow milk variants, curd, and buttermilk from Friday, with competitive pricing that undercuts established players like Mother Dairy and Amul.

Cow milk will be sold at Rs 56 per litre, full Cream Milk at Rs 67 per litre, Standardised Milk at Rs 61 per litre, Toned Milk at Rs 55 per litre, and curd at Rs 74 per kg.

"We have surplus milk in the state. KMF along with Mandya Milk Union will market surplus milk of 3-4 lakh litres per day in Delhi-NCR," Siddaramaiah told reporters after launching the products.

The federation currently collects 100 lakh litres of milk daily, with local consumption at 60 lakh litres, leaving a surplus of 40 lakh litres for expansion into new markets.

However, the Chief Minister acknowledged the challenges of transporting milk over 2,500 km, which takes 50-54 hours.

There is a need to find new markets for surplus milk and gradually the KMF should be able to sell 5-6 lakh litres per day in Delhi-NCR, he added.

KMF Chairman LBP Bheemanaik assured that milk quality would be maintained during transit.

The federation has already partnered with 40 dealers in the Delhi-NCR region to facilitate sales, he added.

With a robust infrastructure of 26.76 lakh milk producers, 15,737 dairy cooperative societies, and 15 district milk unions, KMF has a turnover of Rs 25,000 crore and exports dairy products to over 25 countries.

State Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh and Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy were present at the product launch.