The Nipah Virus outbreak in the state has forced the Kerala Public Service Commission (Kerala PSC) to postpone its examinations until June 16.
A notice put up on the Kerala PSC website states, “In the wake of fever in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, all OMR and online examinations till June 16 stands postponed. New dates will be announced later.”
More than 6 lakh people had reportedly applied for the test.
Earlier, in an attempt to restrict the spread of the virus, the Kozhikode Collector had ordered that no public events and processions would be held until May 31.
17 persons have died due to the Nipah Virus with one more person succumbing to the virus on Thursday. The deceased, Rasin (25), who hails from Naduvannur, was earlier tested negative for the virus. His results came back positive after a second test.
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.