Kerala State Health Department is taking utmost care against the spread of Nipah virus in the wake of unconfirmed reports that a patient was admitted to a private hospital in Ernakulam after having contracted with Nipah.

There is no official confirmation till now in this regard as the samples of suspected patient has been sent to National Institute of Virology in Pune and Manipal Institute of Virology, Health Department officials said on June 3. The patient was put under rigorous observation and there is no need of concern, they added.

Meanwhile, Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja on Sunday clarified that there was no confirmation of Nipah virus infection and termed the reports spreading in the social media about it was 'baseless'. "The newspread case of Nipah virus reported at a hospital in Ernakulam is baseless," District Collector K. Mohammed Y Safirulla said on June 2 evening. The suspected patient suffering from fever is subjected to more checkups as part of the procedures and there is no need to worry, he added.