Odisha's Health and Family Welfare Minister Pratap Jena on July 19 ruled out possibility of Nipah virus as the cause for illness of eight persons undergoing treatment at a state run hospital in Cuttack.

"We have conducted tests for swine and dengue and other viruses. The tests confirmed that these persons are not afflicted with Nipah virus," Jena told reporters while terming the existence of Nipha in the state as a "rumour". They are now being treated at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

The ailing youths, belonging to Balasore district, had returned to the state after a stay at Goa. They had returned to Odisha after two of their inmates died of an unknown disease there, MLA of Bhograi Ananta Das said. Soon after their arrival, they complained of severe stomach pain and fever following which their family members admitted them to Balasore district headquarters hospital, he said. However, the doctors failed to diagnose the disease and referred them to the SCB Medical College and Hospital after their condition deteriorated. The family members of the youths had earlier expressed suspicion over them being infected by Nipah virus, Das said.