Kozhikode: The outpatient department (OP) of a major private hospital in Kozhikode is packed with patients waiting to see doctors. Amid the crowd, a person starts coughing and sneezing, causing bystanders to become alarmed. Some people quickly cover their faces with shawls, but the one coughing isn’t wearing a mask. Most patients in the OP also lack masks.
As the heightened vigilance during the Nipah and COVID-19 periods has passed, people are no longer wearing masks, even in hospitals. With the onset of the rainy season, which brings numerous communicable diseases, people are flocking to hospitals without taking proper precautions. Masks are rarely seen, even in critical care areas of the medical college, and hand sanitisers are often missing. Although masks were once mandatory at the medical college when Nipah was reported in July, this requirement has since been lifted.
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Health experts are urging visitors to hospitals to wear masks, especially given the rise in unusual diseases. Kerala has been experiencing over 11 contagious diseases since the monsoon began. Despite the low risk of airborne transmission, caution is still necessary. Although airborne diseases are relatively rare, doctors emphasise that patients visiting hospitals without masks are increasing their risk of illness. This is particularly concerning as many are seeking treatment for fevers caused by the influenza A virus.
Wearing masks in hospitals a must: Experts
According to Dr. A. S. Anoop Kumar, Director of the Critical Care Department at Aster MIMS, Kozhikode, it is advisable to wear a mask when visiting hospitals, particularly during increase in flu-like diseases.
Dr. T. P. Ashraf, Secretary of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), noted that during the Nipah outbreaks in 2018 and 2023, many persons contracted the disease in hospitals. As a result, wearing a mask in these settings remains a judicious measure. He also mentioned that mask use is now mandatory at Manjeri Medical College to ensure safety.
Published: 23 Aug 2024, 09:50 am IST
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