After UAE, Saudi bans processed fruit and vegetable imports from Kerala fearing Nipah virus

Riyadh, June 6: Saudi Arabia in a bid to avoid the deadly Nipah virus attack in Kingdom banned frozen and processed fruit and vegetable imports from Kerala on Tuesday. Notably, it is a major backlog for Keralaities as their income will be affected severely.

 

Fearing the outbreak of Nipah virus in Kingdom, Saudi Arabia banned frozen and processed fruit and vegetable imports from Kerala. The move comes after Saudi Arabia based Gulf News on Monday reported that the Nipah virus itself can cause encephalitis - a dangerous swelling of the brain - and common symptoms vary from none to elevated fevers, cough, headache, shortness of breath and confusion etc.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the first to ban imports from Kerala. UAE officials on May 29 announced that 100 tonnes of fruit, vegetables and fresh produce that was to be imported from Kerala was prohibited from entry.

So far sixteen of the 18 positive cases of Nipah virus have died and the remaining two are recovering well at a Kozhikode hospital in Kerala. Around 2,000 people, who have reported to have come in contact with the affected, are being monitored.

Importantly, a UAE-based health provider named as VPS Healthcare had already sent a flight to the Kerala government carrying medical supplies that will help the fight against Nipah.