PANJIM: Ruling out any scare regarding infection of the Nipah virus in the State, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday stated that a circular would be issued to all hospitals, including private ones, asking them to report any patient showing symptoms of the virus.
The Health Minister also constituted a committee under the Health Secretary to monitor NiV and put in practice guidelines received from the Centre.
Rane on Wednesday had called a special meeting with Health Department officials to discuss on the virus. “At present there is no reason to worry as there is not a single case of Nipah virus in Goa. The Centre has also not issued any alert except for a general advisory, briefing about the origin and symptoms of Nipah virus,” Rane told the media after the meeting.
He added, “A circular will be issued to all private and government doctors asking them to be vigilant about any patient suspected to be showing symptoms of Nipah. Health Department has confirmed that Goa has not received any alert yet and neither any key instruction from the Central government.”
He further said that doctors would be asked to send samples of suspected patients to Goa Medical College (GMC) and Hospital after which it would be would be sent to Pune for testing.
It is learnt that the department is in touch with its counterpart in Kerala to ascertain the impact and its spread. Hospitals have been instructed to be on their toes and take precautionary measures. The State’s borders are also being watched for passengers entering Goa from Kerala.
Nipah has claimed 10 lives in Kerala while one person is undergoing treatment and eight are under observation.
