Bats in Kerala's Wayanad test positive for Nipah virus: ICMR

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 25 (IANS) A month after the Nipah scare abated in Kerala's Kozhikode district, State Health Minister Veena George on Wednesday informed that the ICMR tests conducted on bats from neighbouring Wayanad district have turned out positive.

While interacting with media, George pointed out that the bat samples collected from Sulthan Bathery and Manathavady areas in Wayanad district have tested positive for the virus.

"The need of the hour is that alert health professionals should leave nothing to chance when they engage in routine work of examining patients. There should be a cautious approach," said George.

Incidentally, it was during the second week of September that the medical authorities in Kozhikode suspected an outbreak of the virus after two patients died of suspected Nipah symptoms.

Kozhikode had witnessed two Nipah deaths and six positive cases. Over 1000 samples were sent for testing.

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