Nipah Virus Alert: Jharkhand issues advisory after Bengal cases
Ranchi: In the wake of two confirmed cases of Nipah virus in neighbouring West Bengal, the Jharkhand Health department has issued an advisory, directing all district civil surgeons to strengthen preventive measures, an official said on Friday.
However, no confirmed case has been reported in Jharkhand so far; the movement of people from affected areas could pose a potential risk, he said.
According to a recent PTI report, Ajoy Kumar said, “Given the highly infectious nature of the disease and its high mortality rate, the department stressed the need for constant surveillance,” Additional Chief Secretary, Health Department.
Also Read:Nipah Virus Alert: 2 Bengal nurses test positive, condition critical
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease primarily transmitted from bats to humans and animals. The infection can spread through consumption of fruits or raw date palm sap contaminated with bat saliva or urine, as well as through close contact with infected individuals and their bodily fluids, the department added.
The advisory listed symptoms such as high fever, headache, dizziness, cough, breathing difficulty, sore throat, altered mental status, and severe neurological complications, including seizures and coma.
“Districts are directed to strengthen screening and surveillance, particularly of individuals arriving from Nipah-affected regions, to prevent and control any potential outbreak. All suspected cases must be promptly reported to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP),” it said.
“Patients showing severe symptoms or respiratory distress must be immediately isolated and referred for advanced medical care,” it added.
It also mandated strict adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols in all healthcare facilities.
The advisory said that the public was urged not to eat fallen fruits or consume raw date palm sap or toddy, to avoid unnecessary close contact with individuals, and to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear.
Meanwhile, the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here has kept 22 beds in an isolation ward ready, an official told PTI.
Earlier, on January 13, the state’s health department had sounded an alert and issued a set of guidelines regarding surveillance and public awareness.
Also Read:Nipah Virus: Two more nurses with symptoms admitted to Kolkata hospital
