The death toll in the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala has touched 11 with the death of two more persons on Tuesday. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the virus in blood and fluid samples taken from all the victims.
Eight of the dead are from Kozhikode district, including the first three victims from a single family, and three from Malappuram district.
According to the office of the District Medical Officer, Kozhikode, 19 persons are under treatment for the infection and two of whom are in a critical condition.
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A team from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) arrived in Kerala on Tuesday to assist the State Health Department. A National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) team has been camping in Kozhikode since Monday.
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Health Minister K.K. Shylaja told the media the State government was in touch with the Union Health Ministry, which has promised all possible help.
“A team headed by the director of the NCDC reached the spot today [Tuesday] and another ...of doctors from the AIIMS and RML shall be landing tomorrow. The Government of India is fully committed to extending all support to the State government,” Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said on Twitter.
Ms. Shylaja said that of the 18 samples tested, 12 had returned positive. The Nipah virus infection had not yet spread among the community and only those who were in direct contact with the initial victims had contracted it.
As the incubation period was between four and 18 days, the Health Department is monitoring all those who possibly had contact with any of the deceased. Seventeen persons are under observation at the Government Medical College Hospital