Thiruvananthapuram: A report in an international medical journal, which put the Nipah death toll in the state at 21, has created confusion as it contradicted the official figure of 17 deaths.
Of the 17 deaths, 14 were reported in Kozhikode and three in the neighbouring Malappuram in May this year. However, the report published in the 'Journal of Infectious Diseases' put the total Nipah deaths in the state at 21, including that of first victim Mohamed Sabith whose samples were not tested for the virus.
Health Minister K.K. Shylaja rejected the report saying that 18 persons were tested positive for Nipah. Out of them, 16 died. The government later updated the death toll by including Sabith.
Additional chief secretary, health, Rajeev Sadanandan, who was one of the experts who prepared the report in the global journal, rejected the controversy. Of the total of 246 samples sent for laboratory examination, 18 had been confirmed positive.
When the officials are unable to check the samples, then these remain in the list of probables. On verification of the case records, it was found that four cases had been found “probables” but there were no samples.
So there were a total of 23 cases which included one index case (Sabith), 18 confirmed cases and four probable cases.
Officials said the academic journals had their own criteria to prepare reports.
