The public health department of Maharashtra has issued a circular urging the citizens of the state to not discriminate against Keralites over fears of the Nipah virus. According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the department took the step after many Malayalis reported being treated unfairly at the workplace after vacationing in Kerala. Employers are reluctant to let them join, and some of them have even got themselves tested at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) to clear any suspicions, according to Mukund Diggikar, Joint Director, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme.

Dr. Sanjiv Kamble, Director, Directorate of Health Services, said that the health department has been conducting screenings to identify anyone exhibiting symptoms of the Nipah virus. The circular also reiterates that the outbreak is localised and hasn’t issued any travel restrictions to the citizens.

The Nipah virus has had the whole country panicking over the deadly disease known to kill 70 to 100 percent of those who are afflicted. The disease is on WHO’s list of blueprint diseases due to its epidemic potential. As of today, there is no known cure, but an antibody with proven anti-Nipah virus properties has been imported from The University of Queensland, Australia and attempts are being made to replicate the cell line of the antibody in India.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 07, 2018 12:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).