KOZHIKODE: The number of deaths due to Nipah virus rose to 11 with the reporting of two more deaths here on Tuesday. Two persons - Rajan, 45, hailing from Koorachundu and Asokan, 52, hailing from Chokiyad - died here on Tuesday morning. Asokan is learnt to have got infection from Perambra taluk hospital where he had gone for treatment at the time when three deceased from the same family of Changaroth underwent treatment. With the reporting of two more cases, the total number of Nipah virus confirmed cases rose to 13 on the day, including 11 deaths. The renaming two persons have been undergoing treatment at private hospitals.Health minister K K Shailaja here on Tuesday said that of the 18 samples sent for testing, Nipah virus infection was confirmed in 12 samples which include 10 confirmed Nipah virus deaths from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. It is the first time that Nipah virus deaths have been reported in Malappuram district.The samples were collected from Lini, 31, a nurse of Perambra Taluk hospital who died on May 21 and Ismail, 40, hailing from Kootalida, and Velayudan, 48, hailing from Kolathur. Sindhu and Shijila, hailing from Malappuram, died on May 20 while Janaki and two persons on May 21 were tested positive. Earlier, three persons in a family hailing from Soopikkada in Changaroth died of Nipha virus infection. Of this, lab test was conducted on the samples taken from two deceased people from the same family who died on May 18 and 19. Muhammed Sahid, 26, hailing from the same family, died on May 5 with the symptoms of Nipah virus. The health department swung into action soon after the reporting of second death V K Salih, from the same family on May 18 after the private hospital alerted the health department.Health minister K K Shailaja said that a total of 14 persons have been admitted to the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital. "Of the 14, two of them have been admitted to the ICU of Institute of Chest Diseases, nine to geriatric ward of the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital. Another three nurses of Perambra EMS Cooperative hospital have been kept under observation at the Kozhikode medical college hospital," said the minister.Health minister K K Shailaja said that better treatment faculties have already been made available at the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital to meet the demands of the people. Minister also advised the public not to panic as the disease was spread among people who have come in direct contact with the infected patients.

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