Kolkata: A man, who had recently returned from Kerala, was admitted to the city-based Beliaghata ID Hospital with symptoms of Nipah virus infection, a senior official of the health department said.
The man from Burdwan district, who was working as a migrant labour in Kerala, was admitted to the hospital with high-fever, nausea, and throat infection, he said.
Also read: Nipah outbreak limited to Kozhikode district of Kerala only, says ICMR DG
Requisite tests on the youth, who is in the mid-20s, to confirm the infection is yet to be done, one of his family members said.
"He returned from Kerala where several cases of Nipah virus infections have been reported. So, we are not taking any chances. Doctors are keeping a close watch on him," the official said.
The health department official said the patient was initially at a hospital in Ernakulam in Kerala after he complained of high fever.
"He returned to West Bengal after being discharged from the hospital. But he again fell ill within a couple of days. He was first taken to the National Medical College and Hospital and then to Beliaghata ID Hospital," he added.
Kerala reported outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus as five people have caught the virus and two of whom have died.
The authorities in the Kozhikode district, where the outbreak was reported, instituted 'containment zones' in the area. Authorities ordered closure of schools. As many as 76 people who came into contact with the infected are being monitored for signs of the disease.
Under the grip of Nipah for four times Kerala was hit by most deadly attack in 2018. The year saw 18 laboratory-confirmed cases and five suspected cases then. Seventeen of patients had died that year. (PTI)
