Nipah virus | TN begins precautionary measures following deaths in Kerala

P. Aruna, Deputy Director of Health Services, Coimbatore, and health officials checking passengers at the inter-State border in Coimbatore district on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In the wake of two deaths due to the Nipah virus in KeralaTamil Nadu’s Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) has initiated precautionary measures in border districts.

TS Selvavinayagam, Director of Public and Preventive Medicine has directed the deputy directors of health services to deploy health teams to begin screening of passengers from Kerala at border check-posts. The health teams will be deployed round-the-clock in Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Theni, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari districts, with immediate effect, he said.

The teams will screen all symptomatic fever cases, with necessary protective equipment, at the borders. The deputy directors of health services have also been told to alert government and private hospitals over Acute Encephalitis Syndrome cases.