Fashion show, music and dance light up annual day at WGSHA, Manipal

February 4, 2012

Manipal, February 4: Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, WGSHA, celebrated its 26^th Annual Day in Manipal on Friday.

The event was graced by Chief Guest Chef Vikas Khanna - an internationally renowned chef and co-host on famous television cooking reality show Master Chef India.

Anand Nayak, Head of HR, ITC India Limited, in his speech claimed that students prefer working with ITC because its vision and mission is beyond making profit and focused on skill development of students, giving them a strong platform to rise.

Mr. Khanna shared anecdotes from his life with the students and explained how he reached the heights of excellence, becoming the best Indian chef in the world. He was also awarded with the distinctive alumnus award by ITC.

Students of WGSHA were awarded with cash prizes and trophies on the occasion for exceptional academic results and overall performance through their course. Kul Mohan Singh, vice-president of WGSHA, presented the annual report for 2011-2012 in which he spoke about the infrastructure, placements, new courses, management training and orientation. He also spoke about the national and international conferences held by faculty members of WGSHA.

WGSHA students later entertained the guests with a fashion show and other cultural events like dance and band performances. 100 varieties of food from 12 different nationalities such as Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Indian and American were prepared and served to the guests by the students of the college.

WGSHA, famous for its cuisine, wine and dining, and culinary arts, has been the top hotel management college in India for four consecutive years.

Other dignitaries from Manipal University present at the event were Dr. Ramdas Pai, Chancellor, K. Ram Narayan, Vice-Chancellor, H.S. Ballal, Pro-Chancellor, G.K. Prabhu, registrar.

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No cases yet, but vigilance high: Karnataka braces for Nipah threat

News Network

February 3,2026

Bengaluru: Following reports of fresh Nipah virus (NiV) cases in West Bengal and heightened vigilance across parts of Southeast Asia, the Karnataka Health Department has placed the state on high alert and activated emergency preparedness protocols.

Health officials said enhanced surveillance measures have been initiated after two healthcare workers in Barasat, West Bengal, tested positive for the virus earlier this month. While no cases have been reported in Karnataka so far, authorities said the state’s past exposure to Nipah outbreaks and high inter-state mobility warranted preventive action.

Officials have directed district health teams to intensify monitoring, particularly at hospitals and points of entry, and to ensure early detection and isolation of suspected cases.

High Mortality Virus with Multiple Transmission Routes

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans and has a reported fatality rate ranging between 60 and 75 per cent. Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are the natural reservoirs of the virus and can transmit it by contaminating food sources with saliva or urine.

Known modes of transmission include:

•   Contaminated food: Consumption of fruits partially eaten by bats or raw date-palm sap
•   Animal contact: Exposure to infected pigs or other animals
•   Human-to-human transmission: Close contact with body fluids of infected persons, particularly in healthcare settings

Symptoms and Disease Progression

The incubation period typically ranges from 4 to 14 days, though delayed onset has also been reported. Early symptoms often resemble common viral infections, making prompt clinical suspicion critical.

•   Initial symptoms: Fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, sore throat
•   Progressive symptoms: Drowsiness, disorientation, altered mental state
•   Severe stage: Seizures, neck stiffness and acute encephalitis, which can rapidly progress to coma

Public Health Advisory

The Health Department has issued precautionary guidelines urging the public to adopt risk-avoidance practices to prevent any local spillover.

Do’s
•   Wash fruits thoroughly before consumption
•   Drink boiled and cooled water
•   Use protective equipment while handling livestock
•   Maintain strict hand hygiene

Don’ts
•   Avoid fruits found on the ground or showing bite marks
•   Do not consume beverages made from raw tree sap, including toddy
•   Avoid areas with dense bat populations
•   Do not handle sick or dead animals

Preparedness Measures

Officials confirmed that isolation wards are being readied in major government hospitals and that medical staff are being sensitised to identify early warning signs.

“There is no cause for panic, but there is a need for heightened vigilance,” a senior health official said, adding that there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah, and care remains largely supportive.

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