Kozhikode: As many as 21 persons died of the Nipah virus in Kerala, stated an international research report. It also stated that a female radiology assistant at Kozhikode medical college was the first health department staff who died because the deadly virus and not nurse Lini.
The findings were in two reports published by the British Medical Journal and the Journal of Infectious Disease on October 26 and November 9.
According to the state health department, 19 persons were infected by Nipah. Among them, 17 died and two survived. The department also claimed that Nipah virus was identified when it affected the second patient itself.
As per the state health department reports, Sabith, who died on May 5, was the first Nipah patient in Kerala. The report claims that Sabith’s brother Salih was the first patient who tested positive for Nipah. The disease was identified on Salih who died on May 18.
However, according to the international research reports published recently, 23 persons tested positive for Nipah in Kerala and 21 among them died. It states that nurse Lini was not the only staff who died of the deadly virus. A female radiology assistant at Kozhikode medical college, who died on May 19 was the first health department casualty. Nurse Lini had died on May 20. The reports state that five persons had died of Nipah at Kozhikode medical college, Perambra taluk hospital and Balussery government hospital before the deadly virus was identified. Salih was the sixth patient.
The reports were published by Rajeev Sadanandan - additional chief secretary and a senior official in charge of health department, Arun Kumar - virology scientist, Kyla Lasserson and Catherine from the Centre for disease control and prevention, USA, and experts from over 15 prominent organisations including the Central Health Department, Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Virology, Pune, National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, National Centre for Disease Control and Drug Controller General of India.
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