Source:
https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2018/11/24/mds11-kl-nipah-row.html
KL-NIPAH-ROW
PTI November 24, 2018 19:37 IST
Row over Nipah death toll in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 24 (PTI):
A row erupted Saturday over the Nipah death toll in Kerala as an international medical journal stated that the deadly virus had claimed 21 lives, contradicting the official figure of 17 deaths.
According to the state government figures, the Nipah virus has claimed 17 lives -- 14 in Kozhikode and three in neighbouring Malappuram since its outbreak in May this year. The figure includes the death of Mohammed Sabith, the firstvictim, whose samples had not been tested for Nipah.
However, a recent report published in the 'Journal of Infectious diseases' has stated that the total Nipah deaths in Kerala was 21.
Interestingly, state health secretary Rajeev Sadanandan wasamong the experts who prepared the study report in the global journal.
Reacting to media reports on the matter, Health Minister K K Shylaja said as per the government estimate, 18 people had tested positive for the deadly virus.
The government had updated the death toll as 17 in July after including the death of Sabith, the first victim whose samples had not been tested for Nipah...
