Bhubaneswar: Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Monday reassured that no suspected Nipah virus infection has been detected in Odisha so far, and appealed for people to stay calm.
“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,” he told ANI after inaugurating Chintan Shivir on the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) held in Bhubaneswar.
Odisha has intensified surveillance and asked all districts, particularly those along the border, to remain on high alert amid a Nipah virus outbreak in the neighbouring state with five cases in just a week. All hospitals have been asked to maintain adequate stock of medicines, PPE kits and other essential medical supplies.
The Minister emphasized the state’s readiness to respond swiftly if any case emerges. “We are ready to take action if any case arises. The health department is fully prepared,” he added.
Mahaling noted that he has already conducted two review meetings with senior officials and is in regular communication with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to coordinate efforts.
Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic pathogen, which spreads to people primarily through contact with infected animals, consumption of contaminated food. It also spreads directly from person to person through close contact with body fluids such as saliva, respiratory droplets, urine, or blood.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infections in humans can vary widely from symptom-free cases to mild or severe acute respiratory illness, and potentially deadly encephalitis or brain inflammation. Infected people initially develop symptoms that include fever, headaches, myalgia, vomiting and sore throat, followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, seizures and coma. Infected persons may also develop atypical pneumonia and acute respiratory distress.
