None of the samples of the fruit bats showed any signs of Nipah genomes
With a Nipah outbreak in Kerala since around two weeks, the carrier of the virus is yet to be identified.
The latest 13 samples of fruit bats sent to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases have all tested negative. Samples of rabbits that were sent have also tested negative. This is the second set of samples that were sent for testing. The first set included samples of pigs, goats, cattle and insect bats, which were tested negative.
16 people in Kerala have died due to the Nipah outbreak. Health Minister K K Shailaja told NDTV that all medical experts are well prepared to handle a second phase. "We have controlled the first phase. But the second wave, involving secondary contacts is expected, in accordance to the global pattern. Our systems are on alert," the health minister said.
The epicentre of Nipah, according to the state government, has been traced to a family in Kozhikode, where four people died and the initial cases were diagnosed. The state officials had claimed that source to be an infested bat belonging to the family.
"None of the samples that we have sent shows any signs of Nipah genomes. We have sent several samples to test various possibilities, but all have been negative till now," Animal Husbandry Director NN Sasi told NDTV.