Visakhapatnam doctors put on alert to tackle any outbreak of Nipah cases

The menacing Nipah virus (NiV) has already claimed numerous lives in Kerela. Recently, the Union Health Ministry also rushed a special team to Kerela to help contain the infection. The virus, being contagious, can be transferred to a healthy person by an infected one. With multiple people from Kerela travelling into Andhra Pradesh regularly, the state government seems to have hit the alert button. The officials in Visakhapatnam too have passed instructions to various bodies to take the requisite steps for tackling any cases that might be reported in the city.

Dr. G.Arjun of King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam said that the DME office in the state has issued orders in the wake of the outbreak of Nipah virus in Kerela. The doctor informed Eenadu that the officials have addressed various aspects related to the medical readiness if any case is reported in the city. He further told that 5 beds were allocated in the hospital for the same.

Dr. Arjun assured that the personnel were equipped with the basic equipment and medicines and are prepared to tackle any situation that might arise in Visakhapatnam.

Symptoms

• Fever, headache, vomiting, diziness
• A few might show symptoms of epilepsy
• Symptoms might last for 10-12 days
• Brain might swell in the final stage which might prove to be fatal

How does it spread?

• From fruit bats to animals through bites
• If people consume the fruits bitten by bats
• From animals to human beings through bodily fluids
• Within human beings through bodily fluids

Precautions

• Stay away from infected person
• Take adequate precautions when in the vicinity of an infected person
• Do not drink raw date palm sap
• Stay away from bats and pigs
• Wash hands properly and maintain hygiene in the surroundings
• Do not consume fresh fruits, date palm and other poorly washed fruits.