Nipah: People in coastal Karnataka urged to take precautions, not panic | Here’s a list of Dos and Don’ts

Mangaluru/Udupi, May 23: Officials in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of coastal Karnataka have urged the people to take maximum precautionary measures and not panic over Nipah virus that has claimed at least a dozen lives in neighbouring Kerala.

The twin districts have been put on high alert after two suspected case of Nipah were surfaced in Mangaluru yesterday. All private hospitals have been asked to notify such cases.

Dakshina Kannada District Health and Family Welfare Officer M Ramakrishna Rao, said that the people suffering from chronic diseases and immunity problems are susceptible to the infection.

The doctor advised people to drink boiled water and wash their hands properly. After exposure to the virus it would take three to 18 days to develop symptoms such as cold, cough, fever, convulsion and nausea, he said.

Meanwhile, Udupi Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis, who on Tuesday chaired a meeting over the prevention of Nipah virus at the District Offices Complex, said that people should strictly avoid eating fruits bitten by birds and which had fallen below trees. People should eat fruits only after cleaning them properly and removing their peels. They should wash their hands and keep them clean, she said.

She directed the Health Department to give information about the virus to all anganwadi workers and junior health workers. Pamphlets about the precautions should be distributed to the general public. All the doctors should be told about the Standard Operating Procedure through the IMA, Ms. Francis said.

The symptoms of Nipah fever include fever, head ache, fainting and nausea. In a few cases, symptoms could also include choking, stomach pain, vomiting, fatigue and blurred vision.

The experts have issued a guideline of Do’s and Don’ts for preventing the spread of Nipah virus fever.

The Dos are:

• Isolate infected livestock, such as pigs, horses, dogs and cats as they act as the intermediate host

• Suspected human cases should be isolated

• Clothes, utensils of suspected cases and items typically used in the toilet or bathroom to be cleaned separately and maintained hygienically

• Avoid hand shake and wash hands properly after contacting infected people

• Wear mask and gloves while tending to patients

• Wash, peel and/or cook all fruits thoroughly before eating

• Visit the nearest health centre for any flu-like illness

The Don’ts are:

• Do not eat fruits that may have been bitten by birds and animals

• Do not drink toddy/neera collected from areas where bats are found in large numbers

• Precautionary measures should be taken when visiting infected areas

• Avoid contact with sick persons’ body secretions (saliva, sweat, urine, etc.)

• Relatives should try to refrain from hugging or kissing their dead.

Also Read: From Malaysia to Kerala: All you need to know about the deadly Nipah virus