UAE expats worry over resurfacing of Nipah virus in Kerala

UAE-based expats from Kerala are worried about their families back home while traders and travellers are exercising precaution after a youth was tested positive for the Nipah virus in the state, according to a media report.

The deadly Nipah virus resurfaced in Kerala with a 23-year-old male college student contracting the brain damaging disease, a year after it killed 17 people in the state.

In all, 311 people from various districts with whom the student from Ernakulam district had interacted were under observation.

Sharjah resident Sridevi Rajendran, who happens to be from the same town as the infected victim, said, "he was in the same school as my son. We are very worried about the situation back home and my son is there as well. Since there is no clarity as to where the virus has originated, people are generally tensed."