Tag: Kerala

Covid Era-Curbs Back In Kerala Amid Nipah Scare: 10 Developments

Like during COVID-19, the containment zone is barred from entry, with all key entry and exit routes to and from these wards being barricaded and police personnel posted . Shops selling essential items and medical shops can operate from 7 am to 5 pm. Those requiring urgent medical care and hospital attention are exempt from the restrictions.

Two people lost their lives and three others have tested positive for Nipah virus in Kerala.
In the wake of a Nipah outbreak in Kerala, due to which two people lost their lives and three others have tested positive for the virus, the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) has delivered the antibody requested by the state to combat the deadly virus. A mobile laboratory was also sent to ground zero to enable the state to test samples. Nine panchayats in Kozhikode district of the state have been turned into containment zones, with hundreds of health workers visiting homes of residents every day, conducting medical check-ups , monitoring people, and collecting data – a scene reminiscent of during the Covid-era. One more case was confirmed today in the state, taking the tally to six. As of now, there are four active cases in Kerala now.
Like during COVID-19, the containment zone is barred from entry, with all key entry and exit routes to and from these wards being barricaded and police personnel posted . Shops selling essential items and medical shops can operate from 7 am to 5 pm. Those requiring urgent medical care and hospital attention are exempt from the restrictions.
Here are top 10 developments on this big story:
  1. Authorities created containment zones after two people died after being infected by the Nipah virus. Five more are undergoing treatment at the hospitals. The samples of another 15 people in the high-risk contact list have also been sent for tests.
  2. In a big relief to the state government, the samples of 11 people sent to Pune’s National Institute of Virology for testing have returned negative.
  3. The ICMR’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune has sent its mobile BSL-3 (Biosafety Level-3) laboratory to Kozhikode to test samples for the virus. The decision was taken after five cases, including two deaths, were recorded.
  4. A five-member central team comprising experts from the National Centre for Disease Control, RML Hospital and NIMHANS has been stationed in Kerala to take stock of the situation and assist the state government in the management of the Nipah infection, news agency PTI reported.
  5. Kerala Health Minister Veena George said the stability of the antiviral was discussed with a central expert committee. “Further steps or course of action will be decided by the expert committee,” she said and referred to consultations between the state and the Union Health Ministry.
  6. The epicentres of the outbreak are the Kallad ward in Maruthonkara panchayat and Mangalad ward in Ayancheri panchayat. The 47-year-old man who died on August 30 was a resident of Maruthonkara, the 40-year-old who passed away on September 11 lived in Ayancheri.
  7. Asha workers are collecting detailed information about the health of the residents using a form. “Residents will fill the form based on their current health status. If they are experiencing fever, cough or other symptoms, they have to record it and we will keep a close tab,” Moidu Master Kattil, the panchayat president in Ayancheri said, according to PTI.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/covid-era-curbs-back-in-kerala-amid-nipah-scare-10-developments-article-103676531

Nipah in Kerala: 5 cases; 700 people on contact list, 77 high-risk | 10 points

Nipah virus prevention: Containment zones have been declared, the route maps of the two deceased have been published for people to avoid.

Nipah containment zone in Kozhikode: The Nipah virus can spread to humans through infected humans, infected animals and fruits. (REUTERS)

A 24-year-old health worker who came into close contact with a Nipah patient tested positive on Wednesday taking the total number of positive cases in the state to five. As the state government has announced containment zones and restrictions to stop the spread of the virus, the contact list of the patients has become a reason for worry as 700 people have come into contact of the patients. Out of these 700, about 77 are in the high-risk category, Kerala health minister Veena George said.

Nipah outbreak in Kerala: Here are the latest updates

1. The high-risk Nipah patients have been asked to remain inside their houses. The routes of the two Nipah patients who died have been published so that people don’t take those routes.

2. In Kozhikode, restrictions have been imposed banning the gathering of a large number of people at festivals, and functions.

3. 58 wards across nine panchayats in Vadakara taluk of Kozhikode district have been declared as containment zones. Essential services and only entry and exit are allowed in these areas. Shops selling essential goods will be allowed to function from 7am to 5pm. No time bar has been given for pharmacies and health centres.

Buses or vehicles plying on national highways through the containment zones should not stop in the affected areas.

4. A nine-year-old boy is suffering from the infection in Kozhikode and the government has ordered monoclonal antibody from ICMR to treat the child. There is no clinical proof that it works against Nipah but this is the only available treatment. The boy is on ventilator support.

5. Around 700 people came into contact of the patients and 76 of them are high risk. The minister said they are all stable.

6. While the outbreak this time took place in Kozhikode, minister Veena George said the entire Kerala is prone to getting such infections according to WHO and ICMR studies.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nipah-in-kerala-5-cases-700-people-on-contact-list-77-high-risk-10-points-101694650826882.html

Nipah Virus In Kerala: 2 Dead, 9-Yr-Old Among 2 Others Infected In Kozhikode. Epicentres Identified

Nipah Virus Deaths: Two people in Kerala’s Kozhikode district died after being infected by the Nipah virus while two out of four suspected have been found to be positive for the infection.

Photo of a medical college after the Nipah virus alert, in Kozhikode, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. ( Image Source : PTI )

Nipah Virus Deaths: The Kerala government confirmed on Tuesday that two unnatural fatalities in Kozhikode district were caused by the Nipah virus infection amid concerns about the resurgence of the deadly pathogen. The southern state is on alert as two cases of Nipah virus have been confirmed among four individuals whose saliva was sent for testing at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed the cases via a Facebook post.

He revealed that two individuals tested positive for Nipah, while the other two received negative results.

In response, he urged the public to remain calm and focus on precautionary measures.

“Everyone should strictly follow the instructions of the health department and the police and fully cooperate with the restrictions,” said Chief Minister Vijayan, emphasising the importance of adherence to health guidelines.

Source: https://news.abplive.com/kerala/union-health-minister-mansukh-mandaviya-confirms-two-nipah-virus-deaths-kerala-know-details-1629286

Nipah alert sounded in Kerala after two ‘unnatural’ deaths: All you need to know

The first-ever Nipah virus outbreak in south India was reported from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in 2018.

Deaths due to Nipah virus infection were reported in Kozhikode district in 2018 and 2021.(PTI FILE)

The Kerala health department on Monday night sounded a health alert in Kozhikode after two people who died due to “unnatural” deaths in the district were suspected to have been infected with the Nipah virus (NiV). According to state health minister Veena George, the relatives of one of the deceased are also admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), reported news agency PTI.

The two deceased were admitted at a private hospital in the Kozhikode district, said reports.

Earlier on Monday, the state health minister held a high-level meeting and reviewed the situation in the district.

All you need to know about the Nipah virus and the outbreak in Kerala:

  1. The first-ever Nipah virus outbreak in south India was reported from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in 2018. The district has since witnessed another massive outbreak in 2021.
  2. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted via animals to humans, and can also be transmitted via contaminated food or directly between people and is caused by fruit bats. The virus is not only fatal for humans, but for animals as well. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers, WHO said.
  3. Although the Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people, the WHO said on its website.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nipah-alert-sounded-in-kerala-after-two-unnatural-deaths-all-you-need-to-know-101694479958878.html

11 Kerala women pool in to buy Rs 250 lottery ticket, hit Rs 10 crore jackpot

Eleven women working at a plastic waste segregation unit in Kerala won Rs 10 crore after they pooling in around Rs 25 each to buy a lottery ticket priced at 250.

The 11 women contributed less than Rs 25 to purchase the Rs 250 ticket, which turned out to be the lucky one in a unique and unexpected windfall. (Photo Credits: Twitter)

This is a story of 11 women united in both luck and friendship. The women — all civic workers — decided to take a chance at a lottery. For that, they pooled in small amounts from their meagre incomes and bought a lottery ticket worth Rs 250. When the lottery results were declared, they found themselves hitting the jackpot, winning Rs 10 crore.

Each of the women had contributed a little less than Rs 25 to purchase the Rs 250 ticket, which turned out to be the lucky ticket.

The women, who work at a plastic waste segregation unit in Kerala’s Malappuram district, were busy with their daily routine of segregating plastic waste when the news was broken to them.

The Kerala Lottery Department made the announcement that the women who pooled money to buy the Rs 250 ticket had won the monsoon jackpot of Rs 10 crore.

As soon as the news spread, several people flocked to the municipal godown premises in Malappuram’s Parappanangadi and met and congratulated the jackpot winners, who were pictured wearing faded green overcoats and rubber gloves.

Radha, one of the winners, expressed her overwhelming feeling of happiness. “The money will be a relief and help solve some of our imminent problems,” she said.

All the women work with Haritha Karma Sena, which is involved in the collection of non-biodegradable waste from households and establishments, which is sent to shredding units for recycling. Salaries for these women working at the Parappanangadi unit range from Rs 7,500 to Rs 14,000.

Sheeja, the chairperson of Haritha Karma Sena, believes that lady luck chose the right ones this time, emphasising that these winners are dedicated workers and the breadwinners for their families. “They are living in very humble households, fighting the harsh realities of life,” she said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/kerala-women-civic-workers-crore-jackpot-lottery-ticket-pooling-money-2413021-2023-07-28

Kerala: At least 15 dead after tourist boat capsizes off Tanur coast in Malappuram

Several vehicles reached the spot to carry out the rescue operation.

At least 15 people were killed after a tourist boat capsized off the Tanur coast in Kerala district on Sunday, Minister V Abdul Rahman told news agency ANI.

The incident happened near Tanur in Malappuram, Kerala.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/kerala-at-least-15-dead-after-tourist-boat-capsizes-off-tanur-coast-in-malappuram

With Vande Bharat, Digital Park, PM’s Big Outreach In Kerala Ahead Of 2024

Visuals from the spot show PM Modi walking the road lined with cheering supporters in what is clearly a departure from his usual practice of riding an open-top vehicle.

PM Modi held a roadshow in Kerala’s Kochi this evening.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a massive roadshow in Kerala’s Kochi last evening, where he landed for a two-day visit. Visuals showed the Prime Minster — surrounded by security personnel — walking the road lined with cheering supporters in what was clearly a departure from his usual practice of riding an open-top vehicle.

Dressed in traditional Kerala attire, PM Modi was seen waving to people on both sides of the 2-km route from the INS Garuda naval air station to the venue of a youth conclave. PM Modi landed at the naval air station after 5 pm yesterday.
The entire area was under a tight security net, with thousands of police personnel deployed to ensure the Prime Minister’s safety. After walking for over 15 minutes, he was led to a following SUV by his security personnel.

Later, addressing “Yuvam 2023” PM Modi spoke of the big infrastructure changes in Kerala brought about by the Central government.

“While the previous governments indulged in corruption in every sector, the BJP government is giving opportunities to the youth in every sector. Through vocal for local, we are encouraging local products, we have given opportunities to the youth in space and defence. We have increased manufacturing and exports in the country,” he said.

“From “Fragile 5”, India has now become the “Fastest growing economy”… You all did this. Which is why I trust the youth of this country with this responsibility,” he added. The BJP expects the youth programme to be a game changer in Kerala politics.

The Prime Minister’s move to walk during the roadshow in Kerala — just days after a suicide bomber threat letter — is seen as a show of confidence in a state where his party is hoping to make huge inroads ahead of next year’s general election.

Over the last few months, the BJP has been aggressively focused on Kerala, not only announcing multiple infrastructure projects but also courting the state’s Christian and Muslim communities, which have influence over a chunk of seats.

Later this evening, the Prime Minister is expected to meet a group of eight bishops from the state’s various Christian sects. It would be his second interaction with the community in three weeks.

The meeting comes on the heels of the BJP’s outreach programme “Sneha Yatra”, as part of which party leaders visited Christian and Muslim homes during Easter and Eid.

Its outreach campaign recently received a shot in the arm when a senior Bishop — Thalassery Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany — of the influential Syro-Malabar Catholic Church said if the Centre promised to increase the rate of rubber procurement to ₹ 300 per kg, the party might gain an MP from the state.

On Vishu, Kerala new year day on April 14, BJP leaders in Kerala hosted bishops and other church leaders for breakfast.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modis-mega-roadshow-in-keralas-kochi-3974948

Two-year-old among three dead as man sets co-passengers ablaze in moving train in Kerala

Three persons were killed and nine suffered burns after an unidentified person started a fire in a moving train at Kozhikode in Kerala late Sunday.

The incident took place on the Alappuzha – Kannur executive express train around 9.30 pm.

Three bodies, including that of a woman from Kannur district, a girl child aged around two and another person were found on the railway track. Eight who suffered burn injuries included women and children. Four of them suffered serious burns.

Some passengers in the train told a section of media that an unidentified person entered the D1 coach with two bottles of petrol-like liquid, poured it randomly on passengers and the train and set fire. As the fire spread, some passengers pulled the train’s chain and as the train stopped, the accused managed to escape. He was also suspected to have suffered burns. Passengers managed to put out the fire.

The passengers ran helter-skelter and it was suspected that the three died after jumping from the moving train. Their bodies were found by Monday early hours during a search on the track.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/two-year-old-among-three-dead-as-man-sets-co-passengers-ablaze-in-moving-train-in-kerala-1206130.html

India reports 2,151 Covid-19 cases in last 24 hours, highest in 152 days

India reported as many as 2,151 Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which is the highest in 152 days.

Image for representation

India’s coronavirus cases breached the 2000-mark again after 152 days since October last year as the country reported 2,151 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours, taking the tally of active coronavirus cases to 11,903, according to Union health ministry data.

The country recorded 2,208 cases in a single day on October 28 last year.

The daily positivity rate stands at 1.51 per cent. The COVID-19 death toll has increased to 5,30,848 with seven latest fatalities — three reported by Maharashtra, one by Karnataka and three reconciled by Kerala.

According to the data updated at 8 am, the daily positivity was recorded at 1.51 per cent, while the weekly positivity was pegged at 1.53 per cent, PTI reported.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/story/india-reports-covid-cases-highest-2352832-2023-03-29

CBI Launches Probe Against Red Cross Society Branches In 5 States Over ‘Irregularities’

The CBI has launched its investigations into the Red Cross branches in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Karnataka, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The CBI has launched its investigations into the Red Cross branches in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Karnataka, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. ( Image Source : Unsplash/Kevin Paes )

The Union health ministry has launched a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into allegations of corruption and financial irregularities at the regional branches of the Red Cross Society in four Indian states and a Union Territory. The complaints were brought to the ministry’s attention, prompting investigations into the Red Cross branches in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Karnataka, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, reported news agency PTI.

The governor of Tamil Nadu requested approval from the national headquarters (NHQ) of the Red Cross Society in Delhi in July 2020 for an investigation into serious allegations against the state branch. However, the accused chairman and other officebearers of the Tamil Nadu branch obtained a stay from the high court in Chennai, which stood vacated in June 2022. The chairman has since resigned and the matter is now with the CBI. The state managing committee has been dissolved and replaced with an ad-hoc committee.

In Kerala, the NHQ recommended dissolution of the managing committee after a case of misappropriation of funds in 2019 allegedly involving the chairman and vice-chairman. An interim committee under a high court judge was appointed, and a new managing committee has since taken over.

The general secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands branch was removed from their position after holding it for an extended period without proper elections, following a complaint that was referred to the lieutenant governor of the Union Territory.

Source : https://news.abplive.com/news/india/cbi-launches-probe-in-5-states-against-irregularities-by-red-cross-society-1588194

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