Six patients test negative for Nipah in Kerala

The patients were suffering from fever and had been in direct contact with a youth who had tested positive for Nipah virus previously.

A hospital staff seen wearing mask as a precautionary measure against the Nipah virus (NIV) at Ernakulam General Hospital in Kochi. (IANS)

Kochi: Samples of six patients suffering from fever were tested negative for Nipah virus, Kerala Health Minister K.K. Shailaja announced on Thursday. She said there was no need to panic as the situation was under control.

Speaking to the media here, Shailaja said all those who were tested negative were in direct contact with the youth who tested Nipah positive early this week. 

"All these patients are under close observation and continue to be in the isolation ward of a hospital. The youth who tested positive is also recovering well," said Shailaja.

High alert across the state will continue and whenever necessary, samples of suspects will be send to the concerned laboratories including the National Institute of Virology, Pune, she said. 

"I am told that two people who came seeking treatment for fever at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College are under observation and their samples also would be send for testing," said Shailaja.

She said the hospital has got the special medicine for Nipah patients.

"Two of our doctors have got training from the Indian Council of Medical Research in administering this medicine that has come from Australia. In case this medicine has to be administered, the doctors will have to seek the permission from the patient`s relatives," added Shailaja.

The youth who has been confirmed with the Nipah virus is from Paravur in Ernakulam district. He was studying in Idukki`s Thodupuzha.

Last month, he came with 16 other classmates for a student internship in Thrissur and later developed fever.

The Minister said a team of experts were trying to identify the source of the virus by visiting places the youth belongs to and visited.

At present over 300 people from Thrissur, Paravur in Ernakulam district, Thodupuzha in Idukki and in Thiruvananthapuram continue to be under observation.

The Nipah virus claimed 12 lives in May, with 22 positive cases reported from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts.