Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Health Ministry has taken stock of the measures for controlling West Nile Virus. A section of the media has reported that a seven year old boy from Malappuram District of Kerala is suffering from a West Nile Virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne disease, mostly reported in the continental United States.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare (HFW) is closely monitoring the situation and has reviewed it with Secretary (HFW) Preeti Sudan. He has directed for all support to be extended to Kerala in its prevention and management.
Secretary (HFW) held a meeting with Additional Chief Secretary, Kerala, Rajeev Sadanandan, and reviewed the situation. The Health Ministry has sent a multi-disciplinary Central team from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to Kerala. The Central team includes Dr Ruchi Jain, RHO Trivandrum, Dr Suneet Kaur, Assistant Director, NCDC, Dr E Rajendran, Entomologist, NCDC, Calicut, and Dr Binoy Basu, EIS Officer, NCDC. The team will support the State Health authorities in managing the disease.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also been alerted and a close watch is being maintained at Central and State level. There are no reports available so far for spread of this virus in other parts of the country, according to a PIB release.