Telangana decides to set up special wards to deal with Nipah virus

Telangana has decided to set up special wards in major hospitals to deal with a possible outbreak of Nipah virus. The deadly  Nipah virus, which has a high mortality rate, can spread through contaminated toddy and fruits such as mangoes and bananas. NiV has claimed 10 lives so far in Kerala and given the high floating population between Kerala and Telangana, experts have called for a high level of surveillance.

The city-based Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) has been made the nodal agency to deal with NiV cases. Health minister C Laxma Reddy reviewed the



situation with senior officials and said there was no cause for concern. The state is also coordinating with the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.

The mortality rate of NiV is as high as 70%. According to researchers, toddy contaminated with the saliva, urine and faecal droppings of the fruit bat or flying fox (Pteropus giganteus) is known to transmit the virus. Toddy obtained from the sap of palm tree (Borassus) is a popular drink in Telangana, with hundreds of outlets dotting Hyderabad and its suburbs.