Kerala Nipah outbreak LIVE UPDATES: Death toll rises to 10, two critical

Kerala Nipah outbreak LIVE UPDATES: ten people have been confirmed dead due to Nipah virus in Kerala. The government has launched a multi-agency probe in the outbreak. Follow the latest developments

By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi |Updated: May 22, 2018 7:44:46 pm

Kozhikode: Family members of the patients admitted at the Kozhikode Medical College wear safety masks as a precautionary measure after the ‘Nipah’ virus outbreak, in Kozhikode, on Monday. (PTI Photo)

Kerala has been put on high alert after the rare Nipah virus claimed ten lives in the state. More deaths with similar symptoms have been reported from the state and the authorities have sent the sample for tests. Also referred to as NiV, the infection spreads through fruit bats.

The Centre has rushed a rapid response team from the National Centre for Disease-Control, National Institute of Virology and Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme to contain the outbreak. More than a hundred samples collected from patients with suspected symptoms have been sent to NIV for confirmation.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is also closely monitoring the situation. “All efforts are also being made to ensure that more lives are not lost,” Vijayan said, adding that the government was handling the issue with ‘utmost seriousness.’

Read | Nipah virus outbreak: Centre rushes health team to Kerala