Collector chairs meet to review preparedness of hospitals, names nodal officers

The district administration on Wednesday directed hospitals to take necessary arrangements in view of the Nipah virus deaths in Kozhikode.An emergency meeting of health officials was chaired by District Collector Mir Mohammed Ali to review preparedness of hospitals in case the infection is reported in the district.

The meeting was told that isolation wards and treatment facilities had been opened at the District Hospital, General Hospital at Thalassery, and the Pariyaram Medical College (PMC) Hospital.

Doctors N. Abhilash of the District Hospital (mobile number 9961730233) and Aneesh K.C. of the General Hospital, Thalassery, (9447804603) were appointed nodal officers to deal with Nipah virus infection treatment arrangements.

The meeting decided to conduct special awareness classes for staff in government and private hospitals. Facilities for ensuring individual safety would be made available in all hospitals. Blood, urine, and throat swab of patients suspected to have contracted Nipah virus infection would be collected at the District Hospital and the General Hospital and sent to the Virology Institute at Manipal for testing.

Private hospitals were asked to take special care in this regard, an official release said.

The PMC would be the referral centre for Nipah virus infection. Special fever clinics would be opened at taluk, general, and district hospitals.The Collector instructed the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to open isolation wards and treatment arrangements at Koyili Hospital, AKG Hospital, and Dhanalakshmi Hospital here. All hospitals in the district should either have isolation wards or special spaces.

He said if Nipah cases were reported in hospitals, including private ones, they should be reported to the integrated disease surveillance programme desk at the District Medical Office here.

Kannur Mayor E.P. Latha, district panchayat president K.V. Sumesh, District Medical Officer-in-charge M.K. Shaj were among those present.