HUBBALLI: Gangadhar Badiger, a chippie in Mushigeri village of Ron taluk in Gadag district, is relieved that he has tested unfavourable for Nipah virus. But the 52-year-old is but to get well from the trauma brought about through the villagers and kinfolk who utterly remoted him and his family even as the tests had been on.
Gangadhar's case is an instance on how society over-reacts to an infectious illness. From the moment information unfold that he was once beneath commentary for Nipah until the day it was once ruled out, Gangadhar had to stumble upon with a number of ugly and inhuman stories.
It all started with a not unusual cold and fever he developed after he returned from Kudutai village, near Kozhikode district the place Nipah outbreak was once reported, in Kerala.
Gangadhar had bought a tractor two years ago to make some extra income. He had long past to paintings at a manufacturing unit in Kudutai final November with the tractor.
When he developed a "minor cold and fever", Gangadhar returned to Mushigeri on May 21 and consulted Dr Parashuram Uppar, who asked him to take relaxation for no less than three days. "I told my relative Mounesh Pattar about the fever. His son Prakash, who works at SDM Hospital in Ujire, to approach Dr Hadimani at the Primary Health Centre in neighbouring Rajur village," said Gangadhar.
Since Gangadhar has returned from Kerala, Dr Hadimani referred him to GIMS on May 22. Doctors there sent his blood pattern for tests and asked him to stay up for a day for effects. "Trauma began on May 23 when I was shifted to a special room. As doctors wore masks and gloves while attending to me, other patients began to panic. Though the hospital staff was kind and assured me of recovery, rumours started doing rounds. Worried patients and their relatives stopped me from using the common toilets, which were the only ones I had access to. Though my fever had subsided by then, the behaviour of other patients traumatised me," said Gangadhar.
Though he sought an immediate discharge, he was once launched best on May 25, after blood check studies from Pune said that Gangadhar had not shrunk Nipah virus.
Meanwhile, the location was once no excellent at his village both. Gangadhar's spouse Sharada Badiger alleged that there was once an "unofficial boycott by villagers".
"No one was visiting our house. Whenever we went out, they had only one demand - that if my husband dies, we should not bring his body to the village. Relatives made enquiries over the phone. When a team of GIMS doctors visited our house, villagers appealed to them to move outside the village, fearing contracting the virus. I was in a state of shock and was not sure if my husband would come back alive. There was no one to console us," she said. Gangadhar and Sharada have three children.
Gangadhar is actually positive now and has left for Kozhikode to deliver his tractor again. "Rather than the infection itself, it was the people's treatment that pained me. I feel it's like a rebirth for me," he said.
Sharanu Menasinakai, a resident of Mushigeri village, claimed that nobody had any dangerous purpose against Badiger family. "They were afraid of contracting Nipah virus. There was panic over Nipah breakout. The state government must take steps to instil confidence in the people," he said.
Gangadhar's case is an instance on how society over-reacts to an infectious illness. From the moment information unfold that he was once beneath commentary for Nipah until the day it was once ruled out, Gangadhar had to stumble upon with a number of ugly and inhuman stories.
It all started with a not unusual cold and fever he developed after he returned from Kudutai village, near Kozhikode district the place Nipah outbreak was once reported, in Kerala.
Gangadhar had bought a tractor two years ago to make some extra income. He had long past to paintings at a manufacturing unit in Kudutai final November with the tractor.
When he developed a "minor cold and fever", Gangadhar returned to Mushigeri on May 21 and consulted Dr Parashuram Uppar, who asked him to take relaxation for no less than three days. "I told my relative Mounesh Pattar about the fever. His son Prakash, who works at SDM Hospital in Ujire, to approach Dr Hadimani at the Primary Health Centre in neighbouring Rajur village," said Gangadhar.
Since Gangadhar has returned from Kerala, Dr Hadimani referred him to GIMS on May 22. Doctors there sent his blood pattern for tests and asked him to stay up for a day for effects. "Trauma began on May 23 when I was shifted to a special room. As doctors wore masks and gloves while attending to me, other patients began to panic. Though the hospital staff was kind and assured me of recovery, rumours started doing rounds. Worried patients and their relatives stopped me from using the common toilets, which were the only ones I had access to. Though my fever had subsided by then, the behaviour of other patients traumatised me," said Gangadhar.
Though he sought an immediate discharge, he was once launched best on May 25, after blood check studies from Pune said that Gangadhar had not shrunk Nipah virus.
Meanwhile, the location was once no excellent at his village both. Gangadhar's spouse Sharada Badiger alleged that there was once an "unofficial boycott by villagers".
"No one was visiting our house. Whenever we went out, they had only one demand - that if my husband dies, we should not bring his body to the village. Relatives made enquiries over the phone. When a team of GIMS doctors visited our house, villagers appealed to them to move outside the village, fearing contracting the virus. I was in a state of shock and was not sure if my husband would come back alive. There was no one to console us," she said. Gangadhar and Sharada have three children.
Gangadhar is actually positive now and has left for Kozhikode to deliver his tractor again. "Rather than the infection itself, it was the people's treatment that pained me. I feel it's like a rebirth for me," he said.
Sharanu Menasinakai, a resident of Mushigeri village, claimed that nobody had any dangerous purpose against Badiger family. "They were afraid of contracting Nipah virus. There was panic over Nipah breakout. The state government must take steps to instil confidence in the people," he said.
"There was one suspected Nipah case, which proved negative after tests. But people should not lose their heart during such occasions. Rather, they should be confident and tolerant. If they find any minor ailment, they should immediately contact nearest primary health centre for preventive measures."
Gadag carpenter isolated over Nipah scare
![Gadag carpenter isolated over Nipah scare]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
June 03, 2018
Rating:
