Rajasthan: Health department issues advisory on Nipah virus, no cases in state yet

TNN / Updated: Sep 20, 2024, 11:20 IST

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The Rajasthan health department has released a precautionary advisory on the Nipah virus, despite no current cases in the state. It highlights necessary precautions for suspected cases linked to Kerala and provides preventive guidelines for the public. Healthcare professionals are instructed to stay alert for symptoms that match Nipah virus infection criteria.

Rajasthan: Health department issues advisory on Nipah virus, no cases in state yet

Officials have been asked to be vigilant about cases with a travel history

JAIPUR: The health department has issued an advisory regarding the Nipah virus (NiV) as a precautionary measure, despite no reported cases within the state.
The advisory aims to raise awareness among health officials and doctors across Rajasthan, considering the potential travel of people from Kerala.
Dr Ravi Prakash Mathur, the director of public health, has confirmed that the advisory has been sent to all districts, including medical colleges.
The advisory, which has been addressed to chief medical health officers, government and private medical colleges, and principal medical officers of hospitals, stresses the importance of taking precautions against any suspected cases, especially those epidemiologically linked to the affected areas in Kerala. NiV can lead to mild to severe disease, including brain swelling (encephalitis) and potentially death. Currently, no licensed treatments are available for NiV, and treatment is limited to supportive care, such as rest, hydration, and symptom management.

The advisory also provides preventive measures for the general population, which include "washing hands with soap and water after coming in contact with a sick person or animal. Avoid consuming raw date palm sap of toddy, consume only washed fruits, avoid consuming half eaten fruits from the ground, avoid entering into abandoned wells, handling of dead bodies (animal) should be done in accordance with the govt advisory."
In response to this advisory, healthcare professionals are instructed to stay vigilant for any cases with a travel history to the affected area and symptoms that resemble the case definitions of Nipah virus infection.

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