Sick baby denied entry by Kingfisher airliner at Mangalore Airport

February 12, 2012

Mangalore, February 12: Even as Bollywood actress Ayesha Takia threatened to sue the Kingfisher Airlines over the alleged misbehaviour by its staffer with her sister, a one-and-a half year old baby on Sunday faced inhuman treatment by a Kingfisher pilot at Mangalore Airport.

The pilot of Bangalore-bound airliner refused to allow the baby, that was seriously ill and required emergency treatment in NIMHANS, inside the plane, despite its parents had taken permission from Kingfisher Authorities and produced medical certificate.

The Kasargod based couple - Ibrahim and his wife Ramlath - had booked Kingfisher Airlines flight tickets for them and their child Abdul Hadi, after a doctor at Athena Hospital advised them to immediately admit the ailing baby to NIMHANS.

It is said that the airline authorities had agreed to allow the ailing baby inside the flight as per the request of the doctor.

However, when they approached the flight, the pilot and other staffers refused entry for the baby despite the passengers had completed all the necessary formalities. When the parents produced the doctor certificate, the pilot shouted at them saying that they needed certificate from doctors associated with the Kingfisher Airlines, it is said.

The helpless parents once again admitted the baby to the Athena Hospital. Later, arrangements were made to shift the child to Bangalore through an Ambulance, sources said.

A source close to the frustrated family said that the child had been admitted to Athena hospital four days ago with high fever. When the condition of the child began to worsen, doctor Anantha Pai advised the parents to shift it to NIMHANS. The doctor also had also requested the airline authorities to allow the child inside the flight, said the source.

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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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