Karnataka Issues Nipah Virus Guidelines, Heightens Surveillance on Kerala Borders

In response to the confirmation of Nipah virus cases in Kerala, the Karnataka government has issued a set of guidelines and intensified surveillance measures along its border districts. The districts of Chamarajanagar, Mysuru, Kodagu, and Dakshina Kannada, which share borders with Kerala, have been put on alert. People have been advised to refrain from traveling to areas affected by Nipah virus, although there is currently no travel ban in place for those coming from Kerala. These guidelines were issued by the Commissionerate of Health and Family Welfare in Karnataka.

Passengers arriving from Kerala will undergo temperature checks, and if symptoms are detected, their samples will be sent for testing. Cargo transportation remains unaffected. In preparation for potential cases, isolation wards have been established in government medical colleges and district-taluk hospitals in Karnataka. Additionally, ten beds have been reserved for individuals exhibiting Nipah-like symptoms, as per the orders from the Health Department’s Principal Secretary, T K Anilkumar, who also emphasized the importance of ensuring an adequate supply of oxygen cylinders.

Meanwhile, the Health Department of Tamil Nadu had previously instructed strict surveillance measures across all districts that share borders with Kerala. The government has directed deputy directors of the health department and local body leaders in Tamil Nadu to promptly report any signs of an epidemic. Intensified surveillance activities have been implemented at the state borders as a precautionary measure.