Pay ward at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital converted into Nipah isolation block

Adequate medicines, equipment available for treatment in district, says Health Minister Veena George

The pay ward building at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Kozhikode, has been converted into a Nipah isolation block against the backdrop of the death of a 12-year-old boy from Chathamangalam due to Nipah infection on Sunday. “Those who test positive for the virus will be shifted to the ground floor. Symptomatic patients and others will be accommodated on the first and second floors. An intensive care unit too has been set aside for the treatment,” said Health Minister Veena George at a high-level meeting here. A point-of-care testing facility under the National Institute of Virology (NIV) is being set up at the MCH by Monday morning. If any positive cases are reported, the samples will be sent to the NIV, Pune, and results will be made available in 12 hours. Nine intensive care units have been set up at the MCH. One of them is already functioning.