Nipah outbreak (Image source: PTI)

Kerala health minister K Muraleedharan on Sunday sought to reassure the public over concerns surrounding Nipah virus and Shigella infections, stating that both situations are being closely monitored and remain under control.Addressing reporters, the minister said one patient suspected of having Nipah virus remains on ventilator support, but extensive testing has so far not indicated a wider outbreak.On Shigella infections, the minister said 135 cases have been reported in the state so far. Three deaths linked to the infection — involving two children and a 59-year-old woman — have also been recorded.However, he stressed that the situation is under constant monitoring and that all necessary medical protocols are being followed.Opposition raises concernsThe government’s handling of disease control efforts came under criticism from Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan, who compared the current response with the approach adopted during previous Nipah outbreaks under the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.Vijayan said that during earlier outbreaks, the then health minister remained stationed in affected areas and personally coordinated containment activities.“”Replacing the person at the helm of the department at such a stage is not something that would normally be expected. But the Health Minister says that the transfer was made because of non-cooperation with the system. A system relating to transfers within the department has been functioning transparently,” Vijayan stated.DHS transfer sparks political debateVijayan further questioned the government’s decision to transfer the Director of Health Services (DHS) during an ongoing public health challenge.“My understanding is that the DHS was transferred because he did not support the UDF government’s attempt to dismantle that system”, said Vijayan.He argued that replacing a senior official at a critical stage of outbreak management was unusual and could affect continuity in response efforts.(With ANI inputs)