Nipah virus kills 11 in Kerala; Centre says disease unlikely to spread

The death toll due to Nipah virus, the severe disease that infects both humans and animals, in Kerala has gone up to 11 even as the disease has been reported in one more district in Northern Kerala. The government has said that it has taken steps to curb the disease from spreading to other places.

Three people died in Malappuram, the district near Kozhikode where the disease outbreak was first reported, and the health department has confirmed that these deaths were due to Nipah virus infection. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is expected to arrive at Malappuram to support disease management efforts.

The first death due to the virus, which is communicated through bats and pigs, in the state was reported at Perambra, Kozhikode, on May 19. The death toll has increased to 11 with two patients dying on Tuesday in Kozhikode. Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja said that the government has tested blood samples of 18 people for suspected Nipah virus disease. Shailaja added that around 12 had been confirmed, while the virus was not present in the blood samples of others. Out of those confirmed infections, 10 have already died and two are in the hospital. The number of people who have died due to the virus includes one person whose blood sample was not tested, and including this, the total suspected cases were 19, according to reports