The Health department sounded alert as a man succumbed to West Nile fever, a mosquito-borne disease, at Panancherry panchayat in Thrissur on Sunday. Revenue Minister K. Rajan convened an emergency meeting at Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Thrissur, to review the situation. Health Minister Veena George attended the meeting online.
According to the medical records, the patient started showing symptoms of West Nile fever on April 24. His hands and legs were paralysed four days later. The patient, who was admitted to private hospital on April 27, was put on ventilator support on April 28 following breathlessness. After being treated in various hospitals, he was admitted to the medical college hospital on May 18.
West Nile fever was confirmed by the virology Institute in Alappuzha on May 25. His condition became critical on May 29 and he died around 9.30 a.m.