The deadly Nipah virus (NiV) is once again back in Kerala as Health Minister KK Shailaja on Tuesday confirmed that the youth being treated near Kochi has tested positive for the virus.
The test was confirmed by the National Institute of Virology, Pune. However, the condition of the person is said to be stable.
According to reports, over 80 people have been put under observation.
The minister said out of 86 patients suspected, two persons have been admitted for treatment. She said two nurses who treated the patient initially have sore throat and fever and are under treatment.
Sample of the second patient will be sent to NIV Alappuzha, Manipal Laboratory and NIV Pune, she added.
Earlier on Monday, the minister had said that there was no need for panic adding that the government had already started putting preventive measures into place to tackle the emergency.
She further advised people showing any signs of having contracted the Nipah virus to get themselves admitted in a hospital.
The 23-year-old studied in a college in Thodupuzha in Idukki and had stayed in Thrissur recently.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed that the government is closely monitoring the situation. The CM has also requested everyone to follow the instructions of the health department.
“While we need to be cautious, it is no cause for panic. We have ramped up a series of measures to tackle the problem; contact tracing, case isolation, quality care & community engagement are being done diligently. Care must be taken to not spread rumours over social media,” a CMO tweet read.
Alerts in affected areas, as well as other parts of the state, are being monitored and investigated by the state government.
In May last year, the Nipah (NiV) virus attack had claimed 17 lives in Kerala with the majority cases being reported from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans) and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people. In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis.