Three deaths due to fever in the district on Saturday and Sunday were confirmed to have been caused by the deadly Nipah virus.
Health authorities said here on Tuesday that Sindu from Munniyoor, Shijita from Tennala and Velayudhan from Kolathur were the victims of Nipah virus. However, the health authorities said the virus was not found anywhere in the district so far. The victims had reportedly contracted the virus from Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Kozhikode, where a few other Nipah victims from Perambra had been treated.
Health Minister K.K. Shylaja, after a meeting with the health and district administration officials at the Collectorate here on Tuesday, said the timely intervention of the government machinery had prevented a Nipah outbreak in both Kozhikode and Malappuram districts.
Allaying the fears of the people, the Minister said the government had taken all measures to fight any possible outbreak. She said that preventive measures were in full swing in the affected areas and neighbouring regions.
All hospitals have been asked to provide details of the patients reaching there with fever. The hospitals have been advised to take extreme caution when shifting patients. All hospitals have been asked to strictly follow the protocol specified in the wake of Nipah alarm. Hospitals have been asked to inform the District Medical Officer whenever a patient with fever is being shifted to the MCH.
P. Abdul Hameed and M. Ummer, MLAs; Health Department Director R.L. Sarita; District Collector Amit Meena; Arun from the Virology Institute at Manipal; Kerala Medical Service Corporation general manager Dileep; District Medical Officer K. Sakeena; and doctors from a Central team took part in the meeting.
