E-Paper
Nipah virus claims two more lives in Kerala, death toll rises to 16
The patients, who tested positive for Nipah virus, were admitted in the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. Initially, both showed some symptoms of recovery, but later their condition deteriorated
Two more persons succumbed to the deadly Nipah virus in Kerala, taking the death toll to 16 even as another person was tested positive in Kozhikode, a health official said.
Madusudhanan (56) and Akihil Karasserry (28) died in Kozhikode Medical College Hospital on Wednesday night.
Initially, both showed some symptoms of recovery, but later their condition deteriorated, the official said, adding that both might have contracted the infection from the hospital.
Another person admitted in the hospital was also tested positive, raising fresh concerns about the viral outbreak.
Now three infected and nine others with symptoms are in the hospital.
State health director, Dr R L Saritha said the state is yet to get any information about the death of an army man suspected to have died of Nipah infection in Kolkata.
Seenu Prasad (28) was on one-month leave in Kerala before joining his duty on May 13, a spokesman of the Army said.
His body was cremated in Kolkata and his fluids were sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for further examination.
The death of Akihil triggered concerns since he was not in the contact list prepared by the health department. He was also not from the area where the infection was first reported. However, some of his relatives said he visited the medical college hospital recently to meet a relative of his friend.
When the state was trying hard to contain the outbreak, the arrival of south-west monsoon has brought more worries.
The health department has decided to widen the list of those under observation. Since most of them have been confined to their homes, the government has decided to give them free ration and sustenance allowance.
