TTT NEWS NETWORK
KOLKATA, 18 SEPTEMBER 2023:
The good news is that there has been no reports of any fresh NIV ( Nipah Virus) positive cases in Kerala since the past 48 hours.
The Kerala health department has raised the incubation period from 21 days to 42 days for further prevention and control of the infection.
The samples of 36 bats have been sent for testing to National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.
Smt. Veena George, health minister of Kerala said that so far the present outbreak of the Nipah Virus in the state is under control, it seems.
1233 people are in high risk category and are kept in isolation, while 352 other people fall under the low risk category.
Till date there are two known strains of Nipah Virus, Malaysia and Bangladesh. The Indian genotype is similar to the Bangladesh strain, according to the Kerala health department.
Sixty one people have tested negative so far. The state government said that the general alert will continue to remain in the six northern districts.
The schools, colleges and tuition centres will remain closed and online classes will continue.
TOURISM UPDATE:
Tourism activities across Kerala are moving ahead safely and normally with all events including the Champions Boat League (CBL) taking place as per schedule, marking the commencement of the high inbound season, State Tourism Minister Shri P A Mohamed Riyas said .
The situation is well under control in a few pockets of Kozhikode district from where some cases of Nipah virus infection were reported, thanks to co-ordinated and foolproof containment measures taken on a war footing, the Minister said.
Mr. Riyas, who is camping in Kozhikode, his home district, to closely monitor the situation along with Health Minister Smt Veena George, said there is no room for worry on this count. Tourism Department officials are in close touch with the travel and hospitality industry and service providers and the feedback is that all tourism activities are on track as planned, the Minister said.
In the affected area the government has mobilised the medical community and the health infrastructure in full strength. Localised quarantine zones have been demarcated and all precautions are in place. The strong and timely interventions have started yielding results. Given the state’s strong health sector infrastructure and history of effective interventions during the past medical emergencies, Kerala has always remained a safe destination for tourists, and the situation is no different now, Mr. Riyas said.
Kerala Tourism has come out unscathed from serious crises in the past, like natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic. Kerala Tourism is poised to scale new heights by the year-end, having clinched an all-time high record of 20.1 per cent increase in domestic arrivals in the first half of 2023.
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