Hyderabad: Health authorities in Telangana have isolated two patients suspected of having contracted the Nipah virus and sent their blood samples to the National Institute of Virology, Pune for testing.
The two patients, both about 25 years of age, were admitted to the government fever hospital and were being kept in an isolated ward.
Dr K. Ramesh Reddy, Director of Medical Education, Telangana said that one of the patients had visited Kerala but did not go the areas where Nipah virus was found.
He said the samples were sent for testing as a precaution and there was no need for panic. He said the samples were being tested both for Nipah and swine flu as their symptoms overlap. The symptoms of Nipah virus which attacks the brain include Acute Respiratory disorder syndrome, cough, cold and high fever.
One of the cases in Hyderabad was suffering from encephalitis,
Dr Reddy said results of the test would be known by Sunday.
Nipah has created a scare as it has already claimed 12 lives including a nurse in Kerala.
Authorities at the Sir Ronald Ross Institute of tropical and communicable diseases in Hyderabad were keeping a close watch on the situation. A meeting of the officials of the Gandhi Hospital and Osmania General Hospital and other hospitals reviewed the arrangements including creation of separate wards to meet with any emergency.
“We are fully geared up”, Dr Reddy said.
