Government to set up Bhovi development board'

Udupi, August 17: The government has decided to set up State Bhovi Community Development Board and has earmarked Rs 25 crore in the budget for the purpose, informed Higher Education Minister Dr V S Acharya.

Speaking after inaugurating a conference organised by Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District units of Karnataka Bhovi (Vaddar) Welfare Association, to commemorate the decennial celebrations and public awareness programme at Narayanguru Sabhabhavan at Bannanje here on Sunday, he said the government had allotted Rs 5 crore as the initial fund for the development programmes to be taken up under the Board for the current fiscal year.

The government has also decided to induct a MLA from Bhovi community to the ministry in the next cabinet expansion. The development issues concerning the Bhovi community were a matter of debate for the 30 years. However, the previous governments in the state failed to introduce welfare programmes for the community, he added. He said the hassles involved in the process of issuing the caste certificates to Bhovi community under ST category in this part of the region will be solved shortly. Deputy Commissioners of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district will be instructed to simplify the process.

Dr Acharya said in Udupi district, Karkala and Kaup have many number of earth workers belonging to Bhovi community. Measures will be taken to improve their living standards, he said. Former Minister Jayaprakash Hegde said the district administration should take up welfare programmes in association with Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat and Gram Panchayat to improve the living conditions of Bhovi community members.

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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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