After Nipah patients die, Kerala hospital staff sent on leave
Several staffers, including four doctors and nurses of a hospital in Balussery in Kerala have been asked to go on leave for a week from today as a precautionary measure, after the death of two people being treated for Nipah virus, officials said. The two deceased had undergone treatment at the taluk hospital before being shifted to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.
The objective was to avoid crowding of people
Alternative arrangements have been made for the functioning of the hospital, the official said. The official said there have been enquiries from various institutions seeking permission to shut office for the time-being. The objective was to avoid crowding of people, the official said. Kozhikode District Collector U V Jose would submit a report to the Kerala High Court on the situation, a source said.
District bar to temporarily shut functioning, schools not re-opened
Following the death of a superintendent of Kozhikode district court complex due to Nipah, the district bar association asked the collector to stop the functioning of the district court for the time-being. As a precautionary measure due to the Nipah virus, schools in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts did not re-open today after summer vacation and would commence their new academic session from June 5.
Visitors of Kozhikode and Balussery hospital to contact Nipah cell
Meanwhile, state health authorities asked those who visited Kozhikode Medical College casualty, CT scan room and waiting room on May 14 and those who visited the Balussery Taluk Hospital in the district on May 18 to contact the state Nipah cell immediately. "The callers' details will be kept confidential," the officials added. The virus has so far claimed 16 lives in Kerala's northern districts.
