Dr Edmond Fernandes selected as Legislative Fellow by the US govt

Media Release

September 29, 2017

Mangaluru, Sept 29: Dr Edmond Fernandes, Founder & CEO, CHD Group and Adjunct Faculty, Dept of Public Health, KSHEMA, Nitte University has been selected as a Legislative Fellow which is a very prestigious fellowship supported by the US Department of state.

He is one among the 12 selected for this prestigious fellowship from across the nation and the only one from the state of Karnataka. The goal of this fellowship is to understand and establish networks among mid-level professionals in the US and India. The Fellows will be exposed to the working of the US Government Departments, interface with regard to public policy and relevant streams related to the core nature of their work.

Dr Fernandes will seek to build and strengthen Indo-US partnerships in terms of Public health and policy domains. While in the USA, he will be travelling to the states of Washington DC, Pennsylvania and then later to New York. Dr. Edmond Fernandes will be majorly working in the city of Philadelphia – where the declaration of Independence and the Constitution was signed.

The Legislative fellowship will also focus on the structure of the US Government, the legislative processes, role of civil society and the impact of good governance on the lives of civilians. Dr Fernandes will also engage in civic leadership engagements and grass-root level activities while in the US and during the Professional Fellows Congress meet with other mid-level professionals and US Government officials. As part of the fellowship’s diplomatic mandates, he will host an American Counterpart during their visit to India. The Legislative fellowship is managed and implemented by World Learning Inc.

Dr Fernandes is also Member- Health Task Force, DDMA, government of Karnataka and has worked extensively in community empowerment programs in and around the country and across other nations besides enhancing the public health systems wherever the demand is. He leads CHD Group – Center for Health and Development which is a field based and field informed public health organisation which engages in public health risk reduction activities, advocacy, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation.

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How on earth!!

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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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