Kochi: The condition of the 23-year-old patient who was tested positive for Nipah Virus (NiV) is now stable, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja informed on Wednesday.

The Health Minister said five patients are admitted to isolation ward, including the one who has been tested positive. Adding further, she said, in the suspected cases, the condition of the patients is not severe and the samples have been sent to NIV Institute in Pune.

“The samples of the five (in isolation) have been send to various laboratories and the final result is expected either tomorrow or day after. The preliminary findings of these five, do not point to anything serious, but, we will wait till the final results come,” Shailaja said.

After a Kerala youth being treated for testing positive for Nipah virus (NiV) on Tuesday, three nurses who treated him, a friend and another person have been kept in isolation. The one who was tested positive of the virus, continues to be treated at a ward at the Kalamassery hospital in the state.

According to reports, a total of 311 people are being closely observed. Reports inform that the officials are trying to find out, how many of these 311 had any direct contact with the youth, who has tested positive.

The misinformation about the spread and cure has become a major issue for the state government. People across the state have been asked not to panic, but seek immediate medical attention if fever develops. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warned of stringent action against those who spread misinformation and urged people to follow the instructions of the health department.

In May 2018, the Nipah (NiV) virus spread caused 17 deaths. Reports informed that 22 positive cases from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts created a huge scare in the state.