Nipah virus outbreak contained in Kerala: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, May 23: Kerala Health Minister K.K. Shailaja on Wednesday said that the outbreak of Nipah virus (NiP), which has claimed 10 lives, has been contained and there was no need to panic. Seventeen people are being treated at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. The disease has been confined to Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. But the minister said two new cases of patients with suspected NiP and fever were reported in Kozhikode and they were under observation. Shailaja told the media here that though the virus had been contained, there was a need be alert. After presiding over the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the dead. (IANS)