The civic administration of Kochi will launch an extensive awareness and disease prevention drive in the wake of confirmation of a case of Nipah virus infection in the city.

Speaking at a meeting held at the Kochi Corporation on Tuesday, Health Minister K.K. Shylaja urged the civic body to initiate precautionary measures to contain the spread of Nipah virus. She also suggested that the civic body create awareness among people about the disease and preventive steps to be taken.

The Corporation has asked all its senior Health officials to convene meetings of residents’ associations and organisations in their respective areas to create awareness on the issue. The focus would be on the dos and don’ts related to the management of the disease, said Mayor Soumini Jain.

Awareness classes will be held on June 7 and 8 involving people’s representatives, residents’ associations, NGOs and political parties. The Health officials will drive home the message that people should seek medical treatment for fever and other diseases.

Though there is no need to panic, those affected with fever should take medical treatment at hospitals, said Ms. Jain.

The civic body will engage two health workers each in all the 74 divisions of the Corporation for cleaning and sanitation work. Each division will be allotted ₹5,000 each for prevention and sanitation programmes, said the Mayor.