All Banks' Christian Employees Assn celebrates decennial year

August 15, 2011

Mangalore, August 15: The decennial anniversary of the 'All Bank's Christian Employees Association' was celebrated at St Sebastian Platinum Jubilee hall, Bendur on August 14th, 2011. A Thanksgiving Mass was held earlier at St Sebastian Church, Bendur. The programme started off with a welcome song by Mr. Prem Lobo & group. The Welcome speech was delivered by Mr. Audy Rego, the president of ABCEA Mangalore,and the decennial report was presented by Mr. Marcel D'souza, ABCEA Founder Chairman & General Secretary.

On this occasion the ABCEA news bulletin was released by Mr. Mannu Bantwal, the proprietor of Prime Land Real Estate. Bishop of Mangalore Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza launched the Association's website www.abceamangalore.com. After this Mr. World Raymond was felicitated with a shawl and garland, by the Bishop and other dignitaries, in recognition of his achievements. Children of ABCEA employees who had achieved success in academics were also honoured on the occasion.

Mr. Melwyn D'cunha, the chairman of MCC Bank, who spoke on this occasion, lamented that although Mangalore was the cradle for several national banks, the Catholic community was lagging behind in the banking sector. He pointed out that several other smaller and newly established co-operative banks had achieved greater success than MCC bank. He stated that a merger between MCC and ABCEA would help it to grow nationally and internationally.

While addressing the gathering, ABCEA deputy general manager Mr. John D'Souza commented that eventhough mangaloreans had secured high ranking jobs and positions, both in the private and public sectors, the mangalorean catholic community was still far behind others in taking up administrative posts. He went on to say that the catholic community have misunderstood our religious teachings and lived in fear of God. He stated that there was a difference between loving God and fearing him. At the end of his address he called upon the youth to consider a career in the IAS or IPS.

Bishop Aloysius D'souza who presided over the programme lauded the efforts of ABCEA for their service to society by assisting the underprivileged sections in education. He exhorted the gathering to give assistance to the education of students who are not able to afford it. He also informed that all 160 parishes in Mangalore diocese would take up a project to build atleast one house each for the poor families. He concluded by urging parents to encourage their children to go for higher education and become achievers as well as responsible students.

Executive member Mr. Oswald Valento proposed the vote of thanks. After the formal programme there was a cultural programme which consisted of Konkani Anarkali dance by ABCEA employees, a bodybuilding show by Mr. Raymond and housie-housie.

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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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