No effort will be made to protect the accused in mining scam: CM

August 20, 2011

Mangalore, August 20: Chief Minister D V Sadanandagowda has assured the people of Karnataka that no effort would be made to save the accused in the Lokayukta report, report on illegal mining in which Mr. Yeddyurappa has been indicted among other ministers.

Replying to the questions of media persons after landing at Mangalore Airport on Saturday afternoon CM said: “If anybody is involved in any wrongdoing, we will discuss it with the high command before agreeing on a decision.”

He promised that all the activities during his tenure would be transparent and in full knowledge of the people of the state. Commenting on the CEC report he said that he had called for a meeting with Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary and other officials of the concerned departments on next Tuesday at 3 pm. He said that no decision would be taken in a hurry as it was important to assess all the aspects of a case.

Mr Gowda will be meeting the residents and officials of Udupi till Sunday evening before returning to Bangalore. He will be consulting the Deputy Commissioners of Alamatti, Bijapur and Bagalkot on Monday.

Mr Gowda said that progress reviews of 20 departments have already been finished which would help in the smooth functioning of the administrative engine.

He had reviewed the progress of development activities in the district along with V S Acharya and Krishna Palemar on Friday. He also promised a swift initiation of development activities in the coastal districts after conducting a discussion of its major problems.

On Yedyurappa's pledge to return to power, he said that those who have commented on returning to power should answer those questions.

Mr Gowda opined that the delay in disposal of files was the major reason for corruption. He said that there is an initiative to hold video conferences from Deputy Commissioners (DC), Zilla Panchayat CEO's to Thashildars at DC's office to increase transparency in administration.

However the CM declined to comment on questions related to cabinet expansion.

Cabinet Members V S Acharya, Krishna J Palemar, Anand Asnotikar, Superintendent of Police Laburam, IGP (western Range) Alok Mohan, Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh were also present.

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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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