A high alert has been issued in Thrissur district as a 23-year-old man who had done internship here recently is suspected to have contracted Nipah. He was admitted to an Ernakulam hospital with suspected Nipah symptoms two days ago.
Isolation wards have been set up in the Government Medical College Hospital and General Hospital here.
Twenty-two persons who were in close contact with the youth have been under close surveillance. However, it is reported that they have not shown any symptoms yet.
From Thodupuzha
The student from Paravur in Ernakulam district, who was studying in a college in Thodupuzha, reached Thrissur along with 22 fellow students for an internship programme. He went back to his house after the programme.
According to Health Department sources, the student had been suffering from fever and other Nipah symptoms for the past 10 days. It is suspected that he had been suffering from fever even before he reached Thrissur. So it is suspected that he might have contracted the disease from Thodupuzha.
Two private hospitals in Thrissur are also being monitored as it is reported that he had taken treatment from these hospitals. As his fever was not subsiding he got admitted to a private hospital in Ernakulam.
The institution where the student underwent internship and the places where he stayed are under surveillance. The Health Department is closely monitoring the students who were staying with him.
“We have taken all arrangements to face any emergency situation. Anybody having Nipah symptoms should immediately take treatment,” District Medical Officer K.J. Reena said. The Health Department said there was no need for people to panic.
Meanwhile, the District Collector and the Health Department convened an emergency meeting and prepared a plan about the preventive measures to be taken.
