The Dakshina Kannada District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr M Ramakrishna Rao has confirmed to TNM that the result for suspected Nipah Virus infection in Mangaluru has turned out to be negative. He confirmed that there is no Nipah virus infection in Mangaluru.
When the initial suspicions arose, the patients - a 20-year-old woman from Kasargod and a 75-year-old man from Mangaluru - were immediately placed in quarantine. They have been undergoing symptomatic treatment at a private hospital and at the Government Wenlock Hospital respectively.
Meanwhile, Dakshina Kannada was put on high alert, sparking fears in the district.
Now, Dr Ramakrishna has appealed to the public to not panic and not believe everything they read on social media.
“Messages have been sent to all government and private hospitals. Since hospitals in Mangaluru get a large number of patients from Kerala, we have directed them to report back immediately if they come across any suspected cases of Nipah Virus. Taluk hospitals and primary health centres too have been warned to be alert. We are in touch with doctors in all hospitals in the district,” he added.
Responding to a possible crisis then, Mahamood Sharif, Research Officer, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka, had said, "We have formed Rapid Response teams in each district that comprise six to seven members. They even go to the field if needed. They disseminate IEC (Information, Education and Communication) material at Primary Health Centre, Community Health Centre, Taluk and District Hospitals level."
In the last few days, the Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Puducherry governments have said that there is no need to panic in these states, but officials have been asked to stay on alert in case of any suspected outbreak.
Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja on Wednesday said that the outbreak of Nipah Virus (NiV), has been contained and there was no need to panic.
The Kerala Health and Family Welfare Department on Wednesday issued a health advisory for persons travelling to Kerala.
So far, 14 people in Kerala have tested positive for Nipah Virus, out of which 11 deaths are confirmed, while three are undergoing treatment.
The Kozhikode Medical College has 136 patients while nearby Malappuram district has 24 who are under observation.
A large number of medical professionals and health experts deputed by the Centre, the state government and the private sector are working in Kozhikode and Malappuram by meeting those who are under observation besides carrying out awareness programmes, an official said.