Kochi: The Kerala government on Tuesday said a college student in Kochi has been tested positive for the deadly Nipah virus and has been shifted to the isolation ward in Kerala’s Ernakulam.

The National Institute of Virology in Pune confirmed the presence of the virus in the 23-year-old engineering graduate who complained of fever and headaches.

Health Minister K K Shailaja on Monday said a list of 86 people who have interacted with the student has been prepared and they were under medical observation. The Kerala Health department has initiated precautionary measures to deal with the possible outbreak of Nipah virus.

Instilling confidence among the people, the minister had said there was no need for any concern and the government, which successfully battled the Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts last year, was fully capable of dealing with the situation. The minister appealed to social media users not to create panic among the public.

Medical experts from Kozhikode have already reached Kochi and there are enough medicines and medical equipment to deal with the situation, she said.

Health workers are being imparted training in case the test in Pune institute is positive and more cases are reported.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the government was taking precautionary steps and monitoring the situation. The chief minister also asked people not to indulge in fake campaign about the Nipah virus on social media.

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