Cuttack: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed with the Orissa High Court (HC) Monday seeking directive to be issued to the state government for taking precautionary measures against the possible outbreak of Nipah virus (NiV) in the state.
Rights activist and advocate Achyutananda Swain filed the PIL after taking note of a report published May 23 by Dharitri, a premier Odia daily.
Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, Health secretary and director, Law secretary, SCB Medical College and Hospital here, Maharaja Krishna Chandra Gajapati Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur and Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Burla were made parties to the case.
Swain informed the HC that although there was no report of the viral disease spreading its tentacles in Odisha so far, the state government should take precautionary measures to counter a possible outbreak.
“The state government has only alerted five medical colleges, hospitals and 30 district headquarters hospitals across the state. So far except SCBMCH, no state-run healthcare facility has taken precautionary measures to tackle the possible outbreak of the brain-damaging disease,” the petition said.
According to health experts, it is a fatal disease and no preventive medicine has been invented for it so far. The viral disease has already claimed more than 13 lives in Kerala.
Since Odisha is well connected with Kerala, by air and railways, chances of the deadly disease spreading in the state cannot be ruled out. Under such circumstances, the state government must take preventive measures to save lives in the state.
The petitioner has also urged the HC to direct the state government to form a special team of doctors. Advocate Antaryami Swain pleaded on behalf of the petitioner.
