Following the admission of a suspected Nipah virus case at Jipmer Hospital here, the Health Department conducted an emergency meeting on preparedness and prevention of Nipah virus on 11th June evening.



According to an official statement, Head of Institution and Department of Medicine from government tertiary case institutions namely district head quarters hospital, state medical college,Government women and children hospital and Jipmer participated in the meeting. The patient came from Guruvayur (Kerala) to his native place Cuddalore with high fever and encephalitis was admitted to Jipmer.The body fluids collected from the patient has been sent to Pune virology research Institute to test for Nipah virus.

Isolation ward have been identified in both government hospital for chest disease with the support of Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute and Jipmer.The meeting directed all private medical colleges to be prepared to handle Acute Encephalitis syndrome cases and isolation wards with beds dedicated for Nipah kept ready.

It was decided to direct the sick passengers coming here from high risk areas of Kerala namely, Trissur, Kollam, Ernakulam and Idukki districts to the isolation facility at Government Hospital for Chest Disease where these suspected are screened for Nipah. If the sick travelers are not suspected Nipah virus patients, home care under isolation will be advised.