the goan I network
PANAJI
A person from Kerala, who displayed symptoms similar to those affected by the deadly Nipah virus has been kept under observation at the Goa Medical College as a precautionary measure.
The Dean of GMC, Dr Pradeep Naik while, speaking to The Goan, has said that there is no proof that the patient has contracted the virus, but that the GMC has kept the patient under observation just to be on the safe side.
He also confirmed that “the patient did not come from the Nipah-affected districts in Kerala” and that there was nothing to worry about.
Sources however, revealed that the patient who was travelling by train from Kerala fell unconscious at Thivim railway station after which he was taken to district hospital at Mapusa. The blood samples have been sent to National Institute of Virology, Pune and the test results are awaited.
Nipah virus has caused mild panic due to several recent deaths related to the virus that has been reported from Kerala.
The Nipah virus that has already claimed 14 lives in Kerala currently has no vaccine, and patients need to rely on intensive support care as a means of primary treatment, according to the WHO. Contrary to what was initially believed, the virus is confirmed to not be transmitted by bats.
