Nipah virus in Kerala: Multi-disciplinary central team to investigate the outbreak

New Delhi: In view of the rising number of cases and reported deaths due to Nipah Virus in Kozhikode, Kerala, Mr J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare has assured all support to the Kerala Government and has directed a multi-disciplinary Central team from National Centre for Disease Control to immediately visit the district, and assist the State and closely monitor the situation. The team reached Kerala yesterday on 21st May.

“We are closely monitoring the situation. I have spoken to Mr Alphons and Ms K Shailaja, Health Minister, Kerala and assured them all support of the Central government. I have also dispatched a Central team to assist the State government and initiate required steps,” the Union Health Minister said in a statement from Geneva.

On the directions of the Health Minister, Ms Preeti Sudan, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare has also spoken to the Principal Health Secretary of Kerala and reviewed the situation.

The Central team includes Dr Sujeet K Singh, Director, National Centre for Disease Control, Dr S K Jain, Head Epidemiology, NCDC, Dr P Ravindran, Director, Emergency Medical Relief (EMR), Dr Naveen Gupta, Head Zoonosis, NCDC along with two clinicians and one expert from Ministry of Animal Husbandry.