Kozhikode: A central team that reached Kozhikode on Thursday is evaluating the Nipah outbreak and the disaster preparedness of the authorities in the district.
The team members also held a tele-conference with the Director General of Health Services. The Kozhikode Distrct Medical Officer later said the central team would visit Maruthonkara.
The team includes 2 joint directors of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), a senior consultant microbiologist, a neurologist, an epidemiologist, and a wild life officer.
The team members are Mala Chhabra (Senior Consultant Microbiologist, ABVIM), Dr Himanshu Chauhan (Joint Director, IDSP, National Centre For Disease Control, Delhi), Dr Meera Dhuria (Joint Director, National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi), Dr Ajay Asrana (Professor, Neurologist, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru,), Dr Hanul Thukral, Epidemiologist, Centre for one health, National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi), Dr Gajendra Singh (Wild Life Officer, Centre for one health, National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi).
Strict restrictions in Kozhikode
In the wake of the Nipah outbreak, strict restrictions have been imposed in Kozhikode district.
All public functions, cultural programmes and sports meets in Kozhikode have been suspended for 10 days, said District Collector A Geetha in a press release.
Religious events, including temple festivals and church feasts, which were scheduled before the recent turn of events, should be conducted with minimal participation, said the Collector, who is also the chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority.
A holiday has been declared for all educational institutions in Kozhikode district on Thursday and Friday (September 14 & 15). Control has been tightened in panchayats declared as containment zones.
There are three active Nipah cases in Kozhikode. A total of 18 samples have been sent for testing so far. Out of these, 4 samples, including the sample of a deceased, tested positive. The results of the 11 samples sent on Wednesday is expected to arrive today. 18 people with symptoms of fever, encephalitis and pneumonia are being treated at the Nipah isolation ward of Kozhikode Medical College hospital currently.
