CHENNAI: In what could possibly be the first reported case of Nipah infection near coastal Tamil Nadu, a man was admitted to Jipmer, Puducherry with symptoms of Nipah infection.
The man from Ernakulam in Kerala was in Puducherry on vacation. He was first admitted to a private hospital where the doctors studied the symptoms and directed him to JIPMER medical hospital. He is currently placed in an isolation ward and his blood samples have been sent for testing. In a statement, JIPMER doctors said that they can confirm a case of Nipah infection only after the blood test results are out.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Dr.K.Kolandaswamy, Director of public health and preventive medicine said,” The patient was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES). There are different causative agents for this and Nipah virus can be one of them. All AES cases are treated in isolation wards. We can determine if this is a case of Nipah infection only after the result of the blood test arrives.”
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu has been put under high alert and the government has taken several measures to allay fears of Nipah outbreak in TN.
