A 23-year old student, who has been admitted to a private hospital here with fever, has been infected with the Nipah virus.
The official confirmation came from the Kerala Health Minister, K K Shylaja after receiving the report from the National Institute of Virology, Pune. The minister has requested everyone who have symptoms to seek treatment immediately. As many as 86 people who came into contact with the youth after he contracted the virus have been placed under observation.
Meanwhile, a six member expert committee has arrived from Kozhikode to examine the situation. The Minister said that medicines brought from Australia are available for the treatment at the National Institute of Virology.
An isolation ward is being arranged at the Government Medical College, Ernakulam. Equipment and other facilities were being brought into the casualty ward, the Minister said.