Continue to follow guidelines: Officials on Nipah

The blood and serum samples of 21 bats that were examined at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal tested negative for the Nipah virus.

Stating that it is important for the public to continue to follow the specified guidelines, a senior health official said, “Everything is conjecture. It is a repeat of the confusion that was caused when the litchi fever was reported last year. The state has issued standard precautionary measures and those must be followed as such.”

He added, “It is essential that we stop panicking at every rumour we hear. Not all cases of fever are either viral fever or respiratory ailments caused by the Nipah virus. The hospitalisation of a Tamil patient from Kerala at the Government Hospital in Tiruchy was reported to be due to the Nipah virus. But, without a confirmation, creating panic is not necessary though it is important to be safe.”