Even as Kerala battles to curtail the Nipah virus for a second time, Kochi-based naturopath Jacob Vadakkanchery is trying his best to spread his drivel to the people. This despite the fact that he was arrested just last year for spreading rumours about a rat fever outbreak.
“Nipah is just a scam, don’t fall for it,” he announced in his 12-minute Facebook live. He claimed that the deadly virus which took the lives of 17 people last year, was just the ‘medicine mafia’ attempting to con the public.
If this was not shocking enough, Jacob even urged people to not visit hospitals or consume allopathic medicines if they come down with a fever. This directly violates the health department’s specific instructions to people to visit hospitals if they feel feverish or exhibit other symptoms of Nipah virus.
“Drugs like paracetamol damages the liver. If you feel feverish just stay at home and drink lots of water,” he adds. On Tuesday, the Kerala government confirmed that the 23-year-old student who is hospitalised in Ernakulam suffers from Nipah virus. Although experts have been roped in to keep the spread of the contagious disease, the source of the virus is yet to be ascertained this time. Last year, when the virus broke out in Kozhikode, fruit bats were found to be the carriers of Nipah which killed 17 people.
Regarding bats being the cause of the virus, the naturopath was unconvinced with the findings of the bests pathologists and experts in the country.
“Where are the bats in Ernakulam?” he asks, and also wonders if bats are present in places like Thodupuzha in Idukki, where the 23-year-old patient was studying.
The founder - director of the Nature Life Hospital, he was also slapped with a Rs 4 lakh fine by the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum after a lawyer died while being treated at the hospital. As per the order passed by the consumer forum, there was negligence on the part of Vadakkanchery and his hospital.
Jacob Vadakkanchery was only just arrested in September 2018 for spreading fear against the vaccination used for rat fever and asking people to refrain from using it. The Kerala Crime Branch arrested him based on the complaint of Health Minister KK Shailaja.