Chennai, June 13:
Surveillance has been intensified at interstate check posts and border villages in the Nilgiris district as Tamil Nadu steps up precautionary measures following the confirmation of a Nipah virus case in neighbouring Kerala.
The alert was triggered after a 43-year-old man from Kozhikode tested positive for the infection. Given the Nilgiris districtâs proximity to Kerala and Karnataka, health authorities have strengthened monitoring in border regions to prevent any potential spread.
Nilgiris District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru said that all necessary preventive measures have been put in place. Special teams are actively carrying out surveillance in interstate border areas and adjoining villages.
The district administration is also expected to issue detailed advisories for residents in border areas, outlining precautionary steps and health guidelines. Tourists visiting the Nilgiris will be sensitised about symptoms and the importance of early medical intervention.
Health officials have advised the public to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, breathing difficulties, dizziness or disorientation. People have also been cautioned against consuming fruits that may have been bitten by bats.
Meanwhile, the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital has set up a special ward in view of rising Shigella infections reported in Kerala. An 11-bed ward has been kept ready, with doctors and healthcare staff on standby to handle any suspected cases.
However, officials clarified that no Shigella cases have been reported in Coimbatore district so far.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid self-medication and instead seek timely treatment at government hospitals or primary health centres in case of symptoms such as high fever or diarrhoea.