Nipah virus: Six suspected patients in Kerala test negative

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ Six persons admitted to a quarantine facility at the Government Medical College in Kerala’s Ernakulam have tested negative for the potentially deadly Nipah virus, a senior Health Ministry official said Thursday.

The condition of the college student, diagnosed with Nipah infection, is stable and a total of 314 persons who were in touch with the infected person have been kept under observation, the official said.  “The blood and serum samples of all six suspected patients have tested negative for Nipah virus infection,” the official said.

The Union Health Ministry has deployed a six-member team comprising an epidemiologist to conduct contact tracing for early detection of suspects and review of isolation facilities. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who reviewed the public health measures put in place in Kerala on Wednesday, said the situation is under control and people need not panic.