Ready to quit as MLA; not sure of contesting again: Palemar

Bangalore, February 10: The Mangalore North MLA Krishna J Palemar, who was forced to resign from his ministerial berths following the Assembly porngate has said that he was ready quit as MLA if the House Committee finds him guilty.

Mr Palemar, who remained in Bangalore without visiting his family or constituency, after facing allegations of providing porn clips to two of his colleagues during Assembly proceedings on February 7, also expressed doubt over his political future.

“I am not sure of contesting again. It all depends on what the party decides,” he said in an informal chat with media persons.

However, Mr Palemar expressed confident that the porngate would not create any problem in his family life.

“They are not bothered because they know what sort of person I am. I have done nothing wrong. My constituency people too know it,” said the 57-year-old legislator.

Mr Palemar wondered why Laxman Savadi and C C Patil named him when the duo was caught watching porn clips.

“I fail to understand why Savadi and Patil mentioned my name. Anyhow, they are my good friends. If some MMS?has come to my cellphone, how can I be blamed?” he asked.

He said the MMS had come to his phone on the same day when Savadi and Patil were caught watching the clippings.

“This only shows that I had not watched it. Anybody could have sent the message. I wasn't aware about it till it became an issue. Anyhow, it was an unexpected incident,” he said.

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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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