Nipah kills one more in Kerala; public meetings banned, examinations put off

With the death of one more patient on Thursday morning, the Nipah virus has claimed 12 lives in Kerala till now, while a fresh case of a nursing student in Kozhikode testing positive has surfaced, officials said.

Death of Moosa was confirmed at a private hospital where he was being treated. Earlier this month, his two sons and another relative also died due to the virus infection. They were the first cases of Nipah reported last week, reports IANS.

Although the number of patients coming for treatment with symptoms of Nipah virus infection has gone down, Kozhikode Collector U.V. Jose has banned till May 31 all public meetings and even training courses, including tuitions, to avoid assembly of people.

The University of Calicut on Thursday announced postponement of all examinations listed for this week. A public service examination has also been deferred in view of the current situation in the district.

The Health Department said on Thursday that a total of 160 samples were sent for testing to Pune. Of the 22 results that came, 14 are positive.

Adding to the 14, a woman nursing student at Kozhikode is reported to have become the latest person to test positive for the infection.

The Kozhikode Medical College has 136 patients and nearby Malappuram district 24 patients under observation.

The authorities have, in the meantime, come out with a protocol to be carried out when the last rites of Nipah victims is performed.

Meanwhile, in Karnataka, two people suspected to be infected with the braindamaging Nipah virus are under treatment, a health official said.