Kolkata, May 30: The deadly Nipah Virus, that has claimed many lives in Kerala, has killed a soldier in Kolkata on Wednesday. According to a report by NDTV, the soldier identified as Seenu Prasad, hailed from Kerala and was posted at Fort William in Kolkata.  Prasad was admitted to hospital on April 20 and died this Sunday of suspected Nipah virus infection. Meanwhile, his samples were sent to National Institute of Virology in Pune to see if it was a case of Nipah virus.

In Kerala, the deadly virus has claimed lives of 14 people so far.  Following the rising cases of the virus, Kerala health department issued an advisory for people travelling to the state and urged travellers to be extra cautious while visiting Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur districts.

It must be noted that the Nipah virus is spread by fruit bats and this causes communicable disease. The virus is fatal for both animals and humans. The symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, drowsiness, respiratory illness, disorientation and mental confusion. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), these signs and symptoms can progress to coma within 24-48 hours.

Earlier this week, a health advisory was issued by the Himachal Pradesh health ministry after over 18 dead bats were discovered a day prior to that in the premises of a government school in Nahan, triggering a panic among locals. After Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Hyderabad, the Bihar government also issued Nipah virus alert this week, asking people to take precautions, an official said.  Meanwhile, fruit sellers in Kerala were badly hit  as the news of Spreading of Virus Linked to Fruits got viral. On Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) banned import of fresh fruits and vegetables from Kerala in the wake of outbreak of Nipah virus (NiV) in the state.

The UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) said in a statement that it has banned the imports of fresh vegetables and fruits from Kerala. According to a report by PTI, the ministry said a circular has been issued to the concerned local authorities including the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and the municipalities of Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah to prevent the entry of all kinds of fresh vegetables and fruits from Kerala.

According to reports, the outbreak of the Nipah virus infection, a newly emerging zoonosis that causes severe disease in both animals and humans, is suspected to be from an unused well at Perambra in Kerala’s Kozhikode district which was infested with bats. The natural host of the virus is believed to be fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, Pteropus genus.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 30, 2018 03:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).