Another patient from Tamil Nadu with signs of nipah virus

Chennai: A 72-year-old patient from Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu has been admitted to Jipmer in Puducherry on Monday with suspected symptoms of Nipah virus. Samples of his body fluids have been sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for examination.

Director of Health and Family Welfare Services K V Raman told PTI Wednesday the patient was Ramalingam from Kattumannarkoil village in Cuddalore district. He had returned from Ernakulam recently with complaints of fever and was treated at a government hospital in Cuddalore from where he was referred to Jipmer for further examination on Monday. Raman said that this was the second case from neighbouring district admitted to Jipmer.

Earlier, Natarajan (51), who had returned to his hometown of Cuddalore from Guruvayoor, was admitted to Jipmer with the symptoms of nipah infection recently. The test report conducted at the National Institute of Virology of the samples collected from Natarajan had tested negative. Raman said although Natarajan tested negative for nipah virus he passed away due to 'Japanese encephalitis' at Jipmer despite intensive treatment on Sunday.