KOCHI: As part of being on guard against Nipah virus which is posing threat in Kozhikode and Malappuram, blood samples of four persons in Ernakulam district have been sent to Manipal Virology Institute till Friday. These patients are primary suspected to be infected with Viral Encephalitis but are being monitored for Nipah also. Of these samples, one sample has been found negative while the results of three more are awaited. The result of the blood sample of 40-year-old Gothuruth native revealed that he was afflicted with Scrub Typhus and he is being treated for the same.
Of the remaining three, a two-year-old Mattancherry native died in a private hospital with swelling in the brain. His report is awaited from Manipal institute. Doctors who treated him said that he did not die due to the viral infection. The third, a 54-year-old Cheranellore native, with infection in the lungs has since recuperated and has left the hospital. The fourth, a 42-year-old Thrikkakara native, who also was admitted to a private hospital with fever and headache is also recuperating.
Two paramedical students hailing from Perambra and residing at Nettoor who were admitted to General Hospital are under observation. Another paramedical student from Kozhikode too has been admitted to Kalamassery Government Medical College with fever and is under observation. The condition of all the three persons is satisfactory, the hospital officials said. District Collector Muhammed Y. Safirulla held a meeting of the officials belonging to various departments at the District Collectorate on Friday to take stock of the situation in the wake of the Nipah virus threat. The measures taken in the district also were reviewed.
