Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Health Minister K.K. Shailaja on Wednesday said that the outbreak of Nipah virus (NiP), which has claimed 10 lives, has been contained and there was no need to panic, reports IANS.
Seventeen people are being treated at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. The disease has been confined to Kozhikode and Malappuram districts.
But the minister said two new cases of patients with suspected NiP and fever were reported in Kozhikode and they were under observation.
Shailaja told the media here that though the virus had been contained, there was a need be alert.
“The entire expenditure of these patients would be borne by the state and there need not be any panic over bats. The government is awaiting the supply of ribavirin, a drug that’s commonly used for treating similar cases,” she said.
Meanwhile, following a complaint from the state Health Department, the Cyber Police here registered a case against misuse of the social media with lots of fake news being circulated with regards the outbreak of the virus.
State Police chief Loknath Behra had earlier warned against dissemination of false information and news regarding NiV, saying strong action would be taken against such people who resort to it.