Muscat – Oman’s Embassy in India has warned citizens not to travel to the southern Indian state of Kerala due to the spread of Nipah virus.
“Avoid travel except in the extreme necessary cases, take precautions, stay away from crowded places and avoid consumption of fruits and vegetables.”, it said in a statement
At least 14 people in Kerala have died from the Nipah virus since the outbreak in May.
The virus, which has a mortality rate of up to 70 percent, can cause encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, as well as severe respiratory symptoms, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to reports, the Nipah virus, which was first identified in 1999 after an outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore, is a disease thought to be transmitted by bats and other animals to humans.