Kolkata: Army sends dead soldier’s body fluids for Nipah virus test

Prasad, who was from Kerala’s Palakkad, died five days after he was admitted to Alipore’s Command hospital on May 20. He was cremated on Monday (May 28). Officials in Kerala said that no one by Seenu Prasad’s name had been admitted to any hospital in Kozhikode, which has taken the brunt of the outbreak.

Read | Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala: All your questions answered

Health officers were verifying if Prasad had been admitted to any other hospital in Kerala.  Earlier this month, the West Bengal government had ruled out any Nipah virus infection cases in the state. It has now put hospitals on high alert in view of Prasad’s death.

Officials said messages have been sent to government and private hospitals to report back to Swastha Bhavan (state health department office) immediately if they come across any suspected case of Nipah virus infection.  “… nodal officers will take information from their respective facilities about such cases and travel history of patients to and from affected areas within the last 21 days. Currently areas around Kozhikode and Mallapuram district in Kerala are facing Nepah virus infection outbreak. Unusual pattern must be reviewed,’’ a health department advisory said.