Kochi, June 3: A high alert has been sounded in Kerala after a patient admitted in an isolation ward in Ernakulam district tested positive for Nipah virus. The scare of the deadly brain-damaging Nipah virus has caused havoc in the southern state. According to a report by Hindustan Times, Kerala health minister KK Shailaja admitted that the initial tests showed the man was positive to Nipah. To curb the spread of the deadly virus, the Centre is expected to rush a team of experts team to Kerala to take a stock of the situations. Youth Admitted to Hospital With Symptoms in Ernakulam. 

A person infected with Nipah virus feels high fever and headache. The virus is spread by fruit bats. After the first case was reported this year, the state waited for the blood reports of a youth, suspected to be infected by the Nipah virus. The Ernakulam health authorities said the Pune Virology Laboratory results were expected on Monday. According to a report by HT, the government opened an emergency control room in Ernakulam. Six people, who were in contact with the patient, have also been tested and are under observation. What is Nipah Virus? How it Spreads, Symptoms & Preventive Measures.

Earlier, the state health minister had negated claims made by the online media that the youth under treatment is a Nipah positive patient as there were no confirmation about the test results.  In May 2018,  the Nipah (NiV) virus killed 17 people in Kerala, including that of a nurse who treated one of the patients.  A total of 22 positive cases were reported from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts that created a huge scare.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 03, 2019 11:59 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).