Shillong May 28: The State health department is seeking action over the circulated of a fake message through social media including Whatsapp about a strange sickness that affected many people in East Garo Hills district were admitted in Williamnagar Civil Hospital.

The fake message has created panic among the people especially in the wake of the outbreak of Nipah virus that has taken the lives of many people in Kerela.

When contacted, Dr L.M. Pdah, who is the State Surveillance Officer (SSO) for Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) in the state, on Monday clarified that the Whatsapp message being circulated that people are  getting strange sickness after eating litchi is totally false.

Dr Pdah said that he had spoken to the Medical Superintendent (MS) of Williamnagar Civil Hospital Dr J. Marak for verification after the message was circulated through social media.

In the fake message, it was claimed that many people were admitted in Williamnagar Civil Hospital with strange sickness. The fake message also quoted one doctor, by the name Dr Basonti R. Sangma from Williamnagar who said that the sickness was caused after eating litchi (lechu).

“She (Dr Basonti) said that if it is going on like this, thousands of people will die within a week. Please tell the children not to eat litchi. The litchis are eaten by bats and people are getting strange sickness. It is affecting Fr James Sangma also. He went to various doctors but sickness cannot be cured,” the fake message said.

However Dr Pdah said during his conversation with the MS of Williamnagar Civil Hospital “she me that there is no one by name Dr Basonti R. Sangma in Williamnagar Civil Hospital or in Williamnagar.”

The MS also urged people not to entertain this type of false rumour that is scaring people.

“This also falls under cyber crime and action can be taken against those spreading false rumours,” the MS told Dr Pdah.

Meanwhile when asked about suspected cases of Nipah virus in Meghalaya, Dr Pdah said that so far no case was detected in the state.

He however informed that the state has been put on high alert and all district medical and health officers have been asked to strengthen the rapid response teams (RRTs) under the IDSP and take immediate preventive measures.

Disease Surveillance Officers (DSO) of all districts have been also asked to be in active surveillance and to alert the district medical and health officers, health institutions and Rapid Response Teams.

As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nipah Virus is a newly emerging zoonosis that causes a severe disease in both animals and humans. This virus was first identified in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998. The virus can be transferred through infected bats, pigs or humans who have been infected.

In 2004, humans who consumed the date palm sap infected by fruit bats, caught the virus as well.