The monoclonal antibody has so far been used in 14 individuals globally and none of them died. 'It has never been used in India. There have been no trials because you need several cases of the infection to do so. And, fortunately that hasn’t happened. Nipah has a mortality rate of 40 per cent to 75 per cent,' says Dr Rajiv Bahl, director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research.
"Nipah virus infection has been confirmed in Kozhikode district. Two people died due to infections. Of the four people whose saliva was sent for testing, two were Nipah positive and two were Nipah negative," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a Facebook post.
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 13 (IANS) Blood samples of two more people, including a nine-year-old boy, from Kerala's Kozhikode district have been detected positive for Nipah virus infection, state Health Minister Veena George said on Tuesday night.