Kerala: The Nipah virus claimed two more lives on Wednesday, May 30 in Kerala, taking the total number of deaths to 16. The deceased are Madhusudan, senior superintendent at Kozhikode district court and Akhil, a native of Karassery in Kozhikode.
The virus spread to Madhusudan from the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (KMCH) which led to his death in a private hospital. The deaths were confirmed by Jayashree, Kozhikode District Medical Officer.
More than 1000 people who were in contact with the victims before it was confirmed that they had the disease, have been put under observation.
A Defense Spokesman stated that, a soldier named Seenu Prasad who hails from Kerala too may have died of the same disease. Seenu was posted at the Eastern Command headquarters Fort William and after he was suspected to have the disease he was admitted to the Command Hospital in Kolkata, where he died. He was on leave for a month and hence had been to Kerala.
The National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune is the only laboratory which tests for Nipah virus and the body fluids of Seenu have been sent there for examination. The spokesman stated that until the reports from NIV, Pune is received Seenu’s cause of death cannot be confirmed.
Dr. RL Saritha, Director of Health Services stated that the medicine from Australia, M 102.4 human monoclonal antibody will reach India in two days and it would be given to the patients as per the treatment process.
