On Tuesday, confirmation of one case of Nipah virus in Kerala sent panic waves across Telangana. A little over a year ago, anxiety had gripped State Health officials over results of two suspected Nipah virus cases in Hyderabad, and it was over 24 hours later that they could breathe easy as the samples tested negative.
Officials, however, realised they would lose out on time if there were to be a positive case, and that instead of spending precious hours on waiting for results, they could provide early treatment and control spread of infection. But, they can do little in this regard until a land parcel or building is selected for setting up the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Hyderabad. In such a scenario, they have no option but to send samples to National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune or NCDC in Delhi.
When the two suspected cases surfaced in May 2018, the two ‘patients’ were isolated in city hospitals. An official from the department was tasked to take the samples to NIV for the tests by road, in a private car. However, the samples came out negative. The entire exercise took more than a day.
Once the NCDC comes up here, samples can be tested immediately and the next course of action decided accordingly. For the time being, officials are taking solace from the fact that no such suspected case has emerged in the State so far.
‘Response awaited’
In November 2018, officials from Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare inspected and identified a two-acre plot in Erragadda for establishing the NCDC. The Ministry’s officials communicated the same to State Health officials and were, in fact, waiting to sign an MoU in this regard.
However, sources said a team of State Health department met NCDC officials in Delhi and put forth a proposal to establish NCDC in a building in Koti on a temporary basis. “A report containing the layout of the ready-to-occupy building, its distance from nearest airport, railway station, and other details is sent to the NCDC officials. Response from them is awaited,” said an official.