State budget evokes mixed reaction in city

March 22, 2012

Mangalore, March 22: The budget presented by Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Wednesday evoked mixed reaction here. While some appreciated setting up of helpline for health-related information and making one year service in rural areas compulsory for MBBS graduates and postgraduates, there were apprehensions over supply of 24 hours water in the city and improvement of roads.

Anantasatya Sanjeeva, retired bank employee: I am not happy with the proposal to impose tax of 10 per cent on luxuries provided at the marriage halls. This will only lead to increase the rent of marriage halls, which is already high. Instead the State government should have devised ways to collect tax from wealthy people who have been evading paying of tax.

Mahesh Bhat, teacher: It is good to hear the government bringing private schools and pre-university colleges set up till 1994-95 under the grant-in-aid scheme. This will help in providing more wages to teachers. We need education that is value based and not the one that is commercially oriented.

Mohan Shetty, taxi driver: I do not have hope of getting 24-hour water supply in the city and improvement of roads in rural areas of the district. These are just promises made keeping in mind the probability of elections.

B. Laxman, bank employee: I am happy with the proposal to set up a toll free health information helpline where people can get medical advice. If effectively handled, this helpline will go a long way in becoming an effective tool in getting quality treatment. It is also good that the State government is investing in providing 24 hours water supply and improvement of roads.

N. Vivekanand, supervisor in an industrial unit: It is good the State government will make it mandatory for MBBS graduates and postgraduates to serve in rural areas for one year.

This definitely caters to shortage of doctors serving in rural areas.

But the government should provide basic treatment facilities at the primary health centres functioning in rural areas.

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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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