No need to panic over Nipah virus, says India's Health Secretary

India's Health secretary Preeti Sudan says the centre is extending all possible help to state governments to control the spread of Nipah infection, asks people not to panic but take precautions.

New Delhi: Against the emerging threat of Nipah virus, India's health secretary Preeti Sudan on Tuesday said that there is no need to panic.

In an exclusive interview to ETV Bharat, Sudan told that her ministry has taken all required steps to counter the threat.

"A team of six officers from health ministry have been deployed and have reached for epidemiological investigation protocol, contact tracing for early detection of suspects, testing protocols and review isolation facilities," said Sudan.

Her minister is ready to extend all possible help to the state governments.

A confirmed suspect case of Nipah virus disease by the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune has been detected.

"Last year too, some cases of such virus appeared, but we had controlled it," reiterates Sudan.

Referring to the ongoing heat wave, the Health Secretary said, "We have issued guidelines as far as a heat wave is concerned."

At present heat wave conditions are prevailing over parts of East UP, West Rajasthan, Vidarbha, West Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, East Rajasthan, West UP, and East MP.