Anti-filaria medication begins

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar )

January 23, 2012

Mangalore, January 23: Mass drug administration programme organized by the Department of Health and Family Welfare for prevention and control of filariasis was symbolically inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner N S Channappa Gowda at Government Wenlock Hospital here on Monday

More than 100 people took tablets at the inaugural function. Sumathi and Sangeetha, nurses at the Government Wenlock Hospital distributed the drugs to the gathering. They informed that each children aged between two years to five years should consume one Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) tablet and one Albendazole tablet, while persons aged between six years and 14 years should consume two DEC tablets and one albendazole tablet. And persons aged above 15 years should consume three DEC tablets and one albendazole tablet at a time and people aged above 70 years are not supposed to take this tablet.

They said that this dosage prevents a person from filariasis for lifetime and if the person is already affected, the consumption of the tablet, would help him recover depending upon his resistance.

Senior Malaria Inspector P Jayaram Poojary said that tablets will be distributed in Mangalore, Puttur and Bantwal taluks of Dakshina Kannada district, under the supervisor of nodal officers. He said each drug distributer covers 50 houses in the location and cover all the houses within three days from today.

Director of Health and Family Welfare services, Bangalore Dr. Cheluvaraj, Joint Director, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) Dr. Nagaraj, Health and Family Welfare officer O R Srirangappa, District Surgeon, Government Wenlock Hospital GM Sangameshwar, Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Dr B Saroja, District Vector Borne Disease Control (VBDC) officer Dr. Arun Kumar, District Health Supervisor (Malaria) Subrahmanya Holla among others were present on the occasion.

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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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