Avoid unnecessary travel to Kerala: Karnataka govt issues guidelines after Nipah outbreak

The Karnataka government has issued guidelines asking people to avoid unnecessary travel to the affected area in Kerala and has intensified fever surveillance in bordering districts due to the Nipah outbreak in neighbouring Kerala.

Training of health staff and keeping beds ready at district hospitals for quarantining the suspected cases are other measures the government has suggested.

In a September 14 circular, the commissionerate of health and family welfare and Ayush services said, "In view of reporting of 4 confirmed Nipah cases with 2 deaths in Kozhikode district of Kerala state, the surveillance activities in the districts bordering Kerala need to be intensified to prevent the transmission of the infection."

The government has issued the guidelines to ensure surveillance activities are adopted immediately. Moreover, it expected immediate action to be initiated by all the districts in the state to prevent the Nipah virus disease transmission at all levels.

The immediate actions to prevent transmission suggested by the government include avoiding unnecessary travel of the general public from Karnataka to the affected area in Kerala, setting up of check posts for fever surveillance at the point of entries at the border, and to intensify the fever surveillance in the bordering districts to Kerala like Chamarajanagara, Mysuru, Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada and at the points of entries to Karnataka.

It calls for ensuring widespread dissemination of IEC (Information Education and Communication) materials to educate the general public regarding the Nipah virus disease, and avoid unnecessary panic. Also, training to health staff right upto PHC level, and having a District Rapid Response Team (RRT) inclusive of veterinary officers.

Hospital infrastructure

The guidelines further include, identifying and keeping reserved, at least two beds in the district hospitals for quarantining the suspected cases reported if any. Negative pressure ICU to be identified and also to ensure adequate stock of all essential drugs and oxygen in the hospitals, along with adequate stock of PPE, VTM (viral transfer medium) and other accessories for sample collection and transportation from a suspected case.

All private hospitals, nursing homes and clinics have been asked to report the suspected case to the district health and family welfare officer of the concerned district immediately.

Monitoring suspected cases

Collecting of clinical sample from suspected case if any and arrange for the immediate shipment to NIV (National Institute of Virology), Pune through NIV, Bengaluru as per the guidelines, monitoring the suspected cases if any and their contacts till the end of incubation period, and strictly following of the Government of India guidelines to detect the cases, have been stressed upon.

The circular asks the districts bordering Kerala (Chamarajanagara, Mysuru, Kodagu, and Dakshina Kannada) to submit compliance reports on the preventive steps taken. 

(With inputs from agencies)