Kerala Secretary of Health articles on Nipah put the government in check – The New Indian Express

By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state health department landed in soup after two international medical journals reported that the death toll from the Nipah epidemic was much higher than the state had said. However, the government maintained that its figures were based on confirmed laboratory reports and excluded any confusion.

The reports, co-authored by the Secretary of Health, also suggest another health worker – in addition to nurse Lini Sajeesh – who reportedly succumbed to Nipah. The government's claim to identify the epidemic with the second case itself is therefore questionable.

After two international medical journals reported that the number of Nipah deaths in the state was higher than the official toll, the family of a radiologist assistant, who died during the epidemic, claimed that She had succumbed to the deadly viral infection.

After an article co-authored by Chief Secretary (Health), Rajeev Sadanandan, in controversial newspapers, T Vinod Kumar, husband of assistant radiologist Sudha, said that she had contracted the disease from Mohammad Sabith, suspected of being the index infection case.
Although Sabith died on May 5, the infection in Nipah was only diagnosed after the death of his brother Mohammed Salih on May 17.

Vinod told Express that his wife Sudha had treated Sabith when he was admitted to Medical College. "She was working as a radiologist assistant. She became ill on May 12 and became critical on May 17. She died on May 19th. She had shown the same symptoms as other patients infected with Nipah, "he said.
If Vinod's claims were true, Sudha would be the first health care worker to die from Nipah infection. According to official records, nurse Lini Puthussery is the first and only health worker to succumb to life-threatening viral infection.

When Express contacted the Director of Health Services, Saritha, to confirm that Sudha's samples had been sent for a detailed analysis, she said this could not be confirmed immediately. "The samples were collected and sent to Manipal by Medical College doctors. We have to check the documents to verify that, "she added.

Vinod said that he had applied for the post of his wife and that the process was going on. "I work temporarily at the Kozhikode Medical College Inn. It would be of great help if the government gave me the job of my wife for whom I had applied. I would also like to meet the Minister of Health, KK Shailaja, to ask him for help to solve his problems, "he said.