One more person confirmed to have contracted the Nipah Virus infection passed away in Kerala, taking the death toll to 17. The deceased, Rasin (25), who hails from Naduvannur, was earlier tested negative for the virus. His results came back positive after a second test.
According to reports, Rasin had been shifted to Kozhikode Medical College on May 26 from Balussery Taluk Hospital following severe fever and symptoms of Nipah. Rasin is reported to have been in the list of those who were in contact with the first victims of Nipah. He is believed to have contracted the infection from Ismail, another person who succumbed to the virus, while they were admitted at the Balussery hospital. Ismail passed away on the May 20.
On Wednesday, two people – P Madhusudhanan (55) and Akhil (28), a native of Karassery, who had contracted the deadly virus passed away in the Kozhikode Medical College where they were undergoing treatment.
Madhusudhanan, who worked as a senior superintendent at a district court in Kozhikode, is reported to have got the infection from Kozhikode Medical College. Authorities are yet to trace the source of infection of Akhil.
Suspecting a second wave of the infection, the authorities have scaled up the number of people, who are under observation for Nipah Virus to 1407.
Meanwhile, the medicines from Australia to fight the Nipah Virus - M 102.4 human monoclonal antibody arrived in Kozhikode on Thursday night and will be administered to patients as per the treatment protocol.
A soldier died in Kolkata of suspected Nipah Virus infection, a Defence spokesman said on Wednesday.
Seenu Prasad, who hails from Kerala and posted at the Eastern Command headquarters Fort William, was admitted to the Command Hospital in Kolkata on May 20 and passed away on May 25, the spokesman said.
Prasad had been on a month's leave to Kerala before rejoining duty on May 13.
His body fluids have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune which is the only agency in the country to certify whether it was a case of Nipah Virus or not.
"Till such time the report from the NIV in Pune is received, it cannot be confirmed whether it was a case of Nipah Virus or not," the spokesman said.