After three confirmed deaths from the mysterious new "Nipah virus" in Kerala's Kozhikode, the centre has sent a team to the southern state. More deaths with similar symptoms have been reported but officials said medical tests were needed to confirm the cause. Union Health Minister JP Nadda tweeted on Sunday that he had asked the chief of the central disease control body to visit the affected district and take steps. The Director of National Centre for Disease Control is expected to lead the team and work with the state government to try and contain the infection. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office tweeted that a statewide alert has been issued and that the government has opened a 24-hour control room to monitor the situation.
