New Delhi, June 4: In the wake of Nipah virus scare in Kerala, the Centre has constituted a six-member team of experts to access the situation in the southern state. The team which has been constituted by the Union health ministry will reach Kerala on Tuesday and will assist state experts in disease preparedness. After a 23-year-old patient was tested positive of Nipah virus in Kerala, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday had called a meeting at his residence with all the officers including health secretary. The Minister informed that the Ministry had dispatched a team of six officers to Kerala. Nipah Scare in Kerala: First Patient Tested Positive in Kochi's Ernakulam, Confirms Report by Pune Virology Institute.

The Union Minister assured Kerala all possible support from the Central government and urged people not to panic about the situation. "We are also in touch with wildlife department to seek their help for subjecting the bats for testing of the virus. I don't think there is any need to panic", Vardhan said.

On Tuesday, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja confirmed that the youth being treated near Kochi has tested positive for Nipah virus (NiV). The Minister has also assured that elaborate arrangements have been made to tackle the emergency and there was no need for panic.  Out of 86 patients suspected, 2 were admitted. 2 nurses who treated the patient initially have sore throat & fever. "Sample of second patient will be sent to NIV Alappuzha, Manipal Laboratory & NIV Pune", Shailaja said. According to reports, the youth is a student who first sought treatment at two private hospitals in Thrissur, where he had gone for student internship. What is Nipah Virus? How it Spreads, Symptoms & Preventive Measures.

The state health minister further informed that in the past two days, the health authorities have prepared a list of 86 people who have come in contact with the infected youth and are under observation. "Of these 86 people, two have fever and one of them is being kept in isolation. Also two nurses have fever and are under observation," Shailaja said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 04, 2019 12:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).