Kerala: College student tests positive for Nipah virus, confirms health minister

News Network
June 4, 2019

Jun 4: The health ministry of Kerala on Tuesday confirmed that a 23-year-old college student has contracted Nipah virus.

Kerala health minister KK Shailaja said that the person from Kochi's Ernakulam tested positive in the results that came from Pune Virology Institute.

On Monday, Shailaja had said that a list of 86 people who have interacted with the student had been prepared and they were under medical observation.

The Kerala Health department has initiated precautionary measures to deal with the possible outbreak of Nipah virus.

She said isolation wards have been set up at the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital in Kochi.

The minister rushed to Kochi after briefing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan about the development.

She chaired a high-level meeting with top health officials and people's representatives to review the situation.

Addressing the media after the meeting, she said the samples were sent to the State Institute of Virology and Infectious Diseases in Alappuzha for examination and it was found that the student was infected with a virus having similarities with Nipah.

The final confirmation from the National Institute of Virology has arrived and confirmed the boy was infected with Nipah.

Instilling confidence among the people, the minister had said there was no need for any concern and the government, which successfully battled the Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts last year, was fully capable of dealing with the situation.

The minister appealed to social media users not to create panic among the public.

Medical experts from Kozhikode have already reached Kochi and there are enough medicines and medical equipment to deal with the situation, she said.

A control room has been opened in Delhi for the help of public with a contact number - 01123978046.

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News Network
February 11,2020

Mangaluru, Feb 11: BJ Puttaswamy, chairman of the State Planning Board stated that the detailed project report (DPR) to develop the Mangaluru-Karwar fisheries road at a cost of Rs 780 crores has been submitted to the state government and approval for it by the Coastal Development Authority (CDA) is pending.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, he said the new developments done and in those in the future for the coastal districts.

He claimed that a feasibility report for the development of State Highway 67 has been submitted to the government.

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coastaldigest.com news network
April 23,2020

Newsroom, Apr 23: During the ongoing lockdown in India so as to break the chain of Coronavirus infection, Islamic scholars across India are appealing Muslims to stay indoors and observe fasting with steadfastedness in the blessed month of Ramadan.

They have urged the people to offer taraveeh and other Namaz at homes, do iftar at home and enjoy with one's family only.

During Ramadan, social distancing would be of utmost importance in order to contain the disease, they urged. 

Shahi imams of Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid in the city have also appealed to Muslims to offer namaz during the holy month of Ramadan at home and follow lockdown guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 31,2020

Mangaluru, May 31:  Even as the worst locust attack on India in recent years raised concerns over its impact on crops, swarms of locusts have triggered panic in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada too. 

Farmers in the coastal district were taken aback when they found the swarms of locusts, which they feared as the arrival of desert locusts in the region.

According to reports, Renjalady village under the limits of Nuji Baltila Gramp Panchayats in Kadaba taluk and Shirlalu village in Belthangady taluk witnessed locust attacks in last couple of days. 

“Locust swarms were seen in many areas. We have also alerted agriculture department. Already insects have destroyed crops of many farmers,” said a farmer in Shirlalu village.  

Joint director of Dakshina Kannada district agriculture department MC Seetha confirmed that officials have received information from villagers about the locust scare and entemologists have already visited the place to collect more information.

Not Desert Locusts?

“We contacted entemologists and forwarded the pictures that farmers sent to us. Looking at the picture, entemologists have opined that it may be calotropis locust or colour grasshopper. Desert locusts usually arrive in lakhs,” said Ms Seetha. Desert locusts that are destroying crops in other parts of India may not come to Dakshina Kannada, she added.

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