Nipah scare: Doctors, nurses of taluk hospital told to go on leave
Several staffers, including nurses and four doctors, of a hospital at Balussery, Kerala have been asked to go on leave from today as a precautionary measure after the death of two people being treated for Nipah virus, officials said. The virus has so far claimed 16 lives in Kerala's northern districts.
Two people, who succumbed to the virus in the past two days, had undergone treatment at the taluk hospital before being shifted to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.
A senior health official said the health staff, including four doctors and nurses, of Balussery hospital who were in contact with the patients were asked to go on leave for a week as a precautionary measure.
Alternative arrangements have been made for the functioning of the hospital, the official said.
Resin, 25, who died on Thursday, was initially treated at the Balussery hospital when another Nipah affected patient, Nikhil was undergoing treatment.
The
official
also
said
there
have
been
enquiries
from
various
institutions,
including
the
local
employment
exchange,
seeking
permission
to
shut
office
for
the
time-being.
The
objective
was
to
avoid
crowding
of
people,
the
official
said.
Kozhikode
District
Collector
U
V
Jose
would
file
a
report
to
the
Kerala
High
Court
on
the
situation
in
the
district
in
the
wake
of
Nipah
virus,
a
source
said.
The
report
was
being
finalised,
the
source
said.
Following the death of a superintendent of Kozhikode district court complex due to Nipah, the district bar association asked the collector to stop the functioning of the district court for the time-being.
As a precautionary measure due to the Nipah virus, schools in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts did not re-open today after summer vacation and would commence their new academic session from June 5.
Meanwhile, as part of 'Nipah alert', state health authorities asked those who visited Kozhikode Medical College casualty, CT scan room and waiting room on May 14 to contact the state Nipah cell immediately.
Those who visited the Balussery Taluk Hospital in the district on May 18 have also been asked to be get in touch with Nipah cell, health authorities said.
Besides, officials have asked those people who made contact with the two, who died due to Nipah, to get in touch with the cell.
"The callers' details will be kept confidential," the officials added.
So far, a total of 196 samples have been tested for Nipah, of which 18 have tested positive. Sixteen people have died due to the virus.