Kanniyakumari hospitals on high alert

NAGERCOIL

Kanniyakumari Collector Prashant M. Wadnere has directed all private hospitals in the district to inform the health department officials if patients come to them with high fever in the wake of a few deaths reportedly caused by Nipah virus in Kerala.

Speaking to reporters at the Collectorate here on Monday, Mr. Wadnere said all the 141 private hospitals and 11 government hospitals in the district had been directed to closely monitor the patients suffering from fever as a few Nipah-related cases had been reported in Kozhikode area in Kerala.

Since a good number of construction workers from the district were working in Kerala, the hospitals had been specifically instructed to inform Public Health department officials if anyone, who recently returned from Kerala, was suffering from fever.

He appealed to the public not to believe rumours going viral on social media that the Nipah-triggered fever was spreading in Kanniyakumari district.

“Since the virus does not spread through mosquitoes or vehicles returning to the district from Kerala, there is no need for panic here. So far, no case has been reported in the district. Since a few cases have been reported in Kerala, we have taken all preventive measures. Those who suffer from fever should seek medical assistance only from a qualified physician,” Mr. Prashant said.