Jawan from Kerala did not die of Nipah Virus infection, test confirms

Result from National Institute of Virology, Pune has confirmed that Seenu Prasad, a 27-year-old jawan from Kerala, who had passed away at Kolkata last week did not die due to Nipah Virus infection.

“The Nipah virus tests conducted by the National Institute of Virology, Pune, in the case of deceased soldier Seenu Prasad have come negative. It was not a case of Nipah virus infection,” said Wing Commander S.S. Birdi, Chief Public Relations Officer in Kolkata for the Ministry of Defence.

Seenu, posted at Army's Eastern Command Headquarters Fort William, had gone to Kerala on one month’s leave. He rejoined duty on May 13. His failing health in the subsequent days had him admitted to the Command hospital in Kolkata on May 20. He passed away on May 25.

His death had prompted suspicions whether Nipah Virus infection was the cause as he had been in Kerala during the Nipah outbreak. Samples collected from him were sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune. The result has now put to rest the speculations on Seenu’s death.

Kozhikode district in Kerala has been on high alert since the Nipah outbreak. So far the total number of confirmed cases stands at 18, out of this 17 have died. This death toll includes the death of Sadik, the first person to die from the Moosa family in Peramabra. Three other members of the family had died due to Nipah virus, but Sadik's samples could not be collected.

 The health department has confirmed that nobody has been affected with Nipah virus after May 17. This is an indication that the containment process has been effective so far.

The two earlier confirmed Nipah Virus cases, who have been under treatment, are responding well to the antiviral drug Ribavirin so far, said officials. No virus has been detected in their latest blood reports and they would only be discharged when it is confirmed that there is no sign of the virus in their body.