Soldier from Kerala dies, Nipah virus suspected

Kolkata: A young Indian Army soldier died due to suspected symptoms of lethal Nipah virus. This is the first time anyone suffering from the symptoms of the disease died in the state. The deceased, Seenu Prasad (27), was posted as a sepoy at the Fort William, the headquarters of the Eastern Command in the city. Originally hailing from Kerala the jawan was on about a months leave to his native place, according to sources adding that he had joined duty on May 13. He was admitted to the Command Hospital in Alipore on May 20, said chief public relations officer (Eastern Command) Wing Commander S.S. Birdi on Wednesday.

“He died on May 25. The body was cremated the next day. His body fluids have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune which is the only agency in the country to certify whether it was a case of nipah virus or not,” he added. Wing Commander Birdi however mentioned that till such time the report from the NIV in Pune is received, it can not be confirmed whether it was a case of nipah virus or not. Meanwhile, two more patients with symptoms of Nipah virus has been admitted at Infectious Diseases Hospital in Beliaghata in north Kolkata. Uttam Bhowmik, the patient, is a resident of Daspur in West Midnapore. At around 12 am on Wednesday he was shifted to the hospital from Midnapore Hospital where he was admitted after he was found suffering from fever for the past four days.

A carpenter by profession the man visited Kerala for work. Another patient is Rajesh Mondal who is a resident of Domkal in Murshidabad. According to his family members, he went to Kerala to work as mason.

Rajesh returned home with suffering fever five days ago. He was admitted to Domkal Hospital and was later shifted to Murshdidabad Medical College and Hospital. As his condition deteriorated he sent to the hospital in Kolkata later from there.

With Uttam and Rajesh the number of patients admitted to the hospital is now four. Rajesh hails from the neighbourhood next to where Ashique Mondal, another patient also admitted with Nipah virus there since May 28, stays. Before the three, Sheikh Safiqul was admitted there.