Shillong, Feb 2: Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla today assured that the state government is on high alert and adequately equipped to respond to any possible Nipah virus threat, even as Meghalaya has not reported a single case so far.
The minister’s statement came in the wake of recent reports of Nipah virus infections in West Bengal.
Addressing public concerns, Shylla said the Health and Family Welfare Department has been instructed to remain vigilant and closely monitor the situation.
“At present, there are no reports or concrete indications of Nipah virus in Meghalaya. There is no reason to create panic,” Shylla said, adding that the department is fully prepared to act if required.
The World Health Organisation has described Nipah as a top 10 priority disease because it has the potential to trigger an epidemic. The disease can spread from animals to humans and there is currently no vaccine. As such, it has a high mortality rate.
The incubation period ranges from four to 14 days and some people infected with the virus may show no symptoms at all.
However, those that do could have fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting and/oir sore throat. In some people, these may be followed by drowsiness, altered consciousness and pneumonia, as well as encephalitis in severe cases.
