Kochi: District Collector Mohammed Y Safirulla has termed as baseless the posts circulating on social media regarding the confirmation of Nipah infection in a patient admitted to a private hospital in Ernakulam.
Patients showing any symptom of Nipah would be subjected to further tests to confirm the disease and this was part of the standard procedure, said the Collector. “There is no need to panic over the development,” said Safirulla.
If the tests prove that the patient has Nipah, the district administration would issue an official notification and resort to preventive measures, added the Collector. He also urged the people engaged in spreading a scare to desist from their actions.
Reports had said that a person suffering from encephalitis was admitted to a star hospital in Ernakulam a few days ago. The body fluids of the person were sent for detailed examination, but the results are yet to be made public.
Authorities at the private hospital said that its medical board, which includes the District Medical Officer, would be meeting soon and the facts related to the case would be released afterwards.
However, the Ernakulam Regional Medical Officer told Manorama Online that no official decision had been taken over the matter. “Social media users should not engage in spreading panic among the people over the issue,” he said.
