Mysterious Ailment: Health Minister Rules Out Threat Of Nipah Virus

Cuttack: Health and Family Welfare Minister Pratap Jena on Thursday ruled out Nipah virus as the cause for illness of the eight persons undergoing treatment for mysterious fever at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

“Swine and dengue tests have been conducted while other medical examinations are on to ascertain the cause behind their ailment. The tests confirmed that these persons are not afflicted with Nipah virus,” the minister said.

The ailing youths, belonging to two separate families of Bhograi in Balasore district and employed at a restaurant in Goa, had returned to Odisha after two of their inmates died of an unknown disease.

Soon after their arrival, they complained of severe stomach pain and fever following which their family members admitted them to Balasore district headquarters hospital for treatment. However, the doctors failed to diagnose the disease and referred them to the SCB after their condition deteriorated.

“The blood samples of the patients will be sent for examination to ascertain the disease,” a doctor treating the youths at SCB had informed.

The family members of the youths had earlier expressed suspicion over them being infected by Anthrax or Nipah virus.