Probe rules out brothers’ Malaysian visit

The preliminary investigation conducted by the Rural police into the international travel details of Mohammed Sabith, who is suspected to be the first Nipah victim in the district, has found nothing suspicious.

The investigation was conducted following a request from the Health Department in the wake of unconfirmed reports that Sabith had been in Malaysia for several months. District Collector U.V. Jose too had recommended an investigation.

After examining the passport details, the police confirmed that the youth had not visited Malaysia. The passport recorded only his visit to Dubai. The passport details of his elder brother Mohammed Salih, who too succumbed to the infection, were checked as he too was abroad for some time with Sabith. The brothers did not visit any other location, the police said.

Lini’s details

With the latest finding, the concern has increased about the actual source of the disease. The police also sought the foreign travel details of Lini, the nurse who died of the infection, from her family members.

District Police Chief (Kozhikode Rural) G. Jaidev said on Saturday that the details collected would be cross-checked with other agencies again. “So far there is no confirmation that the two had visited Malaysia,” he added.