Lions, students plant 300 saplings at Pilikula

August 26, 2011

Mangalore, August 26: As many as 3000 plants belonging to 32 different species were planted at Pilikula Nisargadhama near here on Thursday.

The afforestation programme was organised by Lions International members and students from Sharada College, Mangalore.

Members of Lions International along with the students planted saplings in front of Pilikula Science Centre and around 1500 saplings within the premises of the Shivaram Karanth Biological Park. Lions International has planned to plant over 40 lakh plants in South India as part of its Lions Green Revolution Drive.

J R Lobo, Executive Director of Pilikula Nisarga Dhama compared the planted saplings to a new born child. “The saplings require care and attention like a child. Most important aspect of plantation drive is to preserve the saplings”, he said.

He observed the necessity of planting saplings belonging to a particular region. He noted that planting plants such as Acacia and Mangium is not beneficial to the soil and might even pose an adverse effect. Emphasis should be on preserving the native species of Western Ghats in the region, he said.

Though the people have awareness about conservation of nature, they are not actively involved in it, he lamented.

G Kishore Rao, District Governor, Lions Club International 324-D5 said that Lions International is planning to plant 5000 saplings in Pilikula and 3000 will be planted this year.

M B Sadashiv, Deputy Governor, Lions Club International 324-D5, M B Puranik, President, Tulunadu Education Trust and Sharada College's NSS unit members participated.

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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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