The death toll for the deadly Nipah has risen to 17, with the latest victim being identified as Naduvannur native Rasin. According to a report on the Week, though the death figures stand at 17, only 16 cases have been confirmed. The reason being, the samples of the first suspected casualty of Nipah couldn't be tested as his funeral was conducted before the spread of the disease.

Reportedly, there is one more person being treated at Kozhikode Medical College. The outbreak of the Nipah virus infection, a newly emerging zoonosis that causes severe disease in both animals and humans, is suspected to be from an unused well in Perambra which was infested with bats.

Fear has gripped the entire nation as people are getting infected with the deadly virus and are losing their lives to it. The disease was earlier thought to be spread by bats found in the well of the first victim. But with the recent reports ruling out the role of bats in spreading the contagion, the mystery around the origins of the illness has deepened. Two-days back a soldier from Kerala died in Kolkata, who was posted at Fort Williams died due to the suspected Nipah virus infection case.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 01, 2018 09:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).