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Odisha Health Minister Assures No Nipah Cases, Urges Public Against Panic

Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling has assured residents that no cases of the Nipah virus have been detected in the state, urging people not to panic. He stated the government is maintaining active surveillance, especially in districts near West Bengal, and is fully prepared to handle any potential cases. This comes amid reports of suspected Nipah cases in West Bengal, where central health authorities have deployed a response team. The Nipah virus is a dangerous zoonotic disease with a high mortality rate, causing symptoms ranging from fever to fatal encephalitis.

Key Points: Odisha Reports No Nipah Virus, Health Minister Assures Preparedness

  • No Nipah cases in Odisha
  • Active surveillance in border districts
  • State health department fully prepared
  • Central team deployed to West Bengal
  • Virus has high mortality rate
2 min read

"No need to panic, no Nipah cases detected in Odisha," says Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling

Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling confirms no Nipah virus cases in the state, urges calm, and details government surveillance and preparedness measures.

"No symptoms or cases of Nipah have been detected in Odisha yet... there is no need to panic. - Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling"

Bhubaneswar, January 19

Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Monday assured residents that no cases of the Nipah virus have been detected in the state and there is no need for panic.

Speaking to ANI, Mahaling said, "No symptoms or cases of Nipah have been detected in Odisha yet. I want to assure all the people of Odisha that there is no need to panic about Nipah in the state. We are keeping a close watch on the districts adjacent to West Bengal as well."

The Odisha Health Minister added that the state government is fully prepared to handle any situation if a case arises.

"We are ready to take action if any case arises. The health department is fully prepared. I have already held two meetings with the officials, and we are in constant contact with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare," Mahaling said.

The minister further said that the government is maintaining active surveillance in the state and that residents should remain calm.

The Nipah virus, which is zoonotic in nature (transmitted from animals to humans), can also spread through contaminated food or directly between people. The symptoms of the Nipah virus are fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, sore throat, dizziness, altered consciousness, and Atypical pneumonia.

In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. Nipah Virus Disease (NiVD) has a mortality rate of 50 per cent, making it one of the most dangerous viral diseases.

Meanwhile, amid reports of two suspected Nipah virus cases in West Bengal, Governor CV Ananda Bose on Thursday said that the first step is to contain the virus, and its eradication should be the priority of the government.

"It has to be contained first, and eradication should be the priority of the govt. Everybody should join together to see that we take a strong stand against the Nipah virus and take all precautionary measures to protect people from that..." he told ANI.

Earlier, on Tuesday, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda, amid reports of two suspected Nipah virus cases in West Bengal, said that the government has initiated a coordinated response to prevent a potential outbreak.

Taking immediate action, the Union Minister said that the central government has deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team to support the State Government in containing the virus.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Thank you for the clear update, Minister Mahaling. It's reassuring to know surveillance is active, especially in border districts. Coordination between state and central health ministries is crucial. Let's all stay informed from official sources and avoid spreading rumours. 🙏
A
Aman W
While the assurance is welcome, I respectfully think the government should focus more on public awareness about the symptoms. Many people in rural Odisha might not know what to look for. Preparedness is more than just meetings; it's about ground-level communication.
S
Sarah B
Living in Bhubaneswar, this is a relief to read. The quick deployment of the National Response Team to WB is a positive sign. Hope Odisha's health infrastructure is truly ready if needed. Let's all practice good hygiene and not take any fever lightly.
K
Karthik V
The mention of districts adjacent to West Bengal is key. Travel between the states is constant. The focus should be on screening at entry points, not just surveillance after the fact. Better safe than sorry when dealing with Nipah.
M
Meera T
This is responsible journalism, providing facts without sensationalism. The details about symptoms and transmission help a lot. As citizens, our job is to stay calm, follow official advice, and not forward every scary message on WhatsApp! 👍

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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