Srinath, Reeth Abraham run with Mangaloreans for healthy heart

Mangalore, September 25: Hundreds of people in the city on Sunday ran for a cause, as medical colleges and hospitals conducted various awareness programmes as part of the World Heart Day.

Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore and Nitte KS Hegde Medical College (Kshema), Deralakatte organised awareness runs from Bejai to Attavar and from Pumpwell to IMA hall respectively early in the morning.

International athlete Reeth Abraham was the torchbearer of the KMC World Heart Day Run-2011, while cricketer Javagal Srinath was the celebrity guest.

The runners passed through Lalbagh, PVS Circle, Bunts Hostel Circle, to reach KMC Hospital, Ambedkar Circle.

Attractive prizes were distributed for participants for the best corporate participation, best institution participation, best placard, best slogan shouting, and youngest and eldest participant who run or walk through the stretch.

Winners of the drawing competition that was conducted on September 10 at KMC Hospital, Attavar, were also given away prizes at the valedictory programme.

On the occasion, Mr. Srinath, current match referee of the International Cricket Council and Secretary, Karnataka State Cricket Association, and Ms. Abraham were also given a warm felicitation.

District In-charge Minister Krishna J Palemar, Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assembly N Yogish Bhat, City Police chief Seemanth Kumar Singh and Manipal University Registrar Dr G K Prabhu were the guests of honour.

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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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