Fearing the spread of Nipah Virus (NiV) in Kerala Bihar Chief minister Nitish Kumar instructed the health authorities on Monday 28^th May to spread awareness about NiV infection and the message of preventive methods to be adopted.

Laying the foundation stones of health-related schemes at the secretariat Chief Minister issued the directions. He said there were chances of NiV cases being reported because of visits to Kerala and tourist inflow to Bihar as well. Till now not a single NiV case has been reported in Bihar.

Last week, State Health Society Bihar’s epidemiologist Ragini Mishra had said the government has issued an advisory on the NiV directing officials to spread awareness that people should avoid eating fruits bitten by animals and bats, and also toddy (fermented palm sap) because of chances of contamination in palm fruits, as per media reports.

On instructions from the health department Medical college and hospitals in Patna have already taken steps to handle NiV cases.

Patna Medical College and Hospital superintendent Deepak Tandon said a two-bed isolation ICU is ready at the hospital.

The symptoms that have reported among NiV patients admitted in Kerala are respiratory distress and severe encephalitis symptoms – all of which require ICU admission for critical care. If any person is suspected to have contracted the virus here, the person will be directly admitted to the ICU, and then be moved to an isolation ward after being stabilised.

We have converted a big hall into an isolation ward for NiV cases. The hospital will arrange for protective gear for doctors and paramedics for handling suspected NiV cases once any patient is admitted. Doctors already have masks at the hospital and the other  protective gear will be purchased locally, added Tondon.

Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences’ medical superintendent Manish Mandal and Nalanda Medical College and Hospital superintendent Anand Prasad Singh also said their respective hospitals have made the necessary arrangements. “We have booked four isolation ICUs. Besides, doctors and other hospital staff have been asked to follow protocol for viral patients,” said Dr Mandal.

Nalanda Medical College Hospital superintendent Dr Singh said an eight-bed isolation ward has been created and the purchase of protective gears have been started.

Suspected patients will be admitted in the ICU without wasting any time.

  Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Nalanda Medical College