the goan I network
PANAJI
The Health Department has constituted a committee to monitor and oversee the situation in case of the outbreak of Nipah virus in Goa.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane told reporters that the committee which will be headed by the Health Secretary will consist of members such as the Dean of Goa Medical College, the Director and Deputy Director of Health, the Head of the Department of Medicine, the Chief Epidemiologist of the Directorate of Health Services and the Undersecretaries of health to ensure that there will be a protocol to follow in case of an outbreak.
“Right now in Goa, there is nothing to worry about. There is no one who has shown any symptoms. A lot of messages are spreading on WhatsApp and are creating a fear psychosis, mainly out of concern,” Rane said.
“So far we have not received any instructions from the Union Ministry of Health, but when and if they come, this committee will be in place to implement them,” Rane
added.
He said that the committee which will establish protocol will also ensure that in the future if there is an outbreak, the committee will be ready to tackle it at the earliest.
Nipah virus has caused some concern in Goa owing to its proximity to Kerala and the number of tourists from the Southern State that visit Goa as well as the number of people who pass through Goa on their way to other states.
