NAGERCOIL
Following Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, Kanniyakumari district administration has put the Department of Public Health on high alert by involving over 300 persons in surveillance activities.
After a student from Ernakulam, two nurses, who treated the student, and his relative were tested positive for Nipah on Tuesday, the Kanniyakumari district administration has put the health officials on high alert since thousands of people from the district commute to various places in Kerala every day for work.
Deputy Director of Public Health Madhusoodhanan said a few thousand workers from Melpuram, Munsirai, Tiruvattar and Killiyoor areas were travelling to Kerala for work and return every day.
Over 300 employees attached to primary health centres had been trained in handling people with fever. Officials of Integrated Child Development Scheme had also been instructed to assist the health department officials.
“If the workers returning from Kerala suffer from fever, they and their family members will be monitored closely. Though no Nipah case has been reported in the district so far, all government and private hospitals have been instructed to transmit details of fever cases instantly to the Department of Public Health. There is no need for panic as the official machinery is fully prepared to deal with any situation,” Dr. Madhusoodhanan said.
