New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has sent a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Kerala's Kozhikode district to probe the rising number of cases and reported deaths due to the Nipah virus.
The high-level team from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has been asked to assist the Kerala government and closely monitor the situation.
"We are closely monitoring the situation. I have spoken to Tourism Minister K J Alphons and Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja and assured them all support of the central government.
"I have also dispatched a central team to assist the state government and initiate required steps," Union Health Minister J P Nadda said in a statement from Geneva.
Union Minister K J Alphons hails from the southern state.
The multi-disciplinary team constituted by the ministry reached Kerala on Monday. The NCDC's director is heading it.
On the directions of Nadda, Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan has also spoken to the Principal Secretary for Health, Kerala, and reviewed the situation in the state.
The Nipah virus (NiV) infection in humans has a range of clinical presentations, from asymptomatic infection to the acute respiratory syndrome and fatal encephalitis, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The Kozhikode health department is maintaining vigilance in the wake of three deaths.
The condition of two more people, who were allegedly in contact with the deceased, is believed to be dangerous.