Nipah toll jumps to 10 as govts scramble to contain outbreak

KOZHIKODE(KERALA): OF THE 18 SAMPLES SENT TO LAB FOR INVESTIGATION, 12 HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED — OF WHICH 10 SUFFERERS HAVE DIED AND TWO ARE SERIOUS

The toll due to the Nipah virus (NiP), presently identified in Kerala’s Kozhikode and Malappuram, rose to 10 on Tuesday even as the Central and state governments scrambled to contain its outbreak.

State health minister KK Shailaja, who is now based at Kozhikode and shuttling to Malappuram, told the media that till Tuesday, 18 samples have been sent for investigation.

“Of these, 12 have been identified — of which 10 sufferers have died and two are serious. The medical professionals are doing their best, even as two patients with this virus passed away today (Tuesday) morning,” said Shailaja and added that 11 in Kozhikode are under observation.

The virus first claimed the lives of two brothers and their aunt in Perambara near here.

Even though Nipah virus, spread by direct contact with infected fruit bats, pigs or from other infected persons, infects both animals and humans, Central Animal Husbandary Commissioner SP Suresh, who is part of the Central team here, said that after their examination of animals in the affected areas, no incidence of virus in animals has been identified and instead it is the humans that have been affected.

“No domesticated animals so far have been affected. Other aspects should be now probed as this has been now found in only human beings,” he said.

It is a piquant situation for the Rajasthan government which is now knocking the doors of the banks seeking loans to fund its promise of waiving off the loans to farmers.

In the state budget on February 18, CM Vasundhara Raje had announced a one-time crop loan wavier of up to ~50,000 for small and marginal farmers. Her government promised to bear a burden of ~8,000 crore. However, three months down the line, the government is yet to arrange the money to fulfil its promise.

JAIPUR: