Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], June 5 (NT): Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda claimed that the Nipah Virus occurrence in Kerala is the outcome of "tampering with nature".

Speaking in a press conference here on Monday, Nadda assured that the Centre is strongly keeping an eye on the situation in Kerala.

"All such incidents were the result of tampering with nature. Nipah Virus wasn't a man-made problem. There were natural reasons. Every person suffering from the virus has been mapped and those in contact with such patients have been detected," he asserted as quoted by ANI.

Nadda further asserted that scientists from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Safdarjung Hospital, National Institute of Virology in Pune and doctors from the National Centre for Disease Control are supporting health authorities in Kerala in managing the outburst of Nipah.

On a related note this deadly and rare Nipah virus claimed As many as 16 lives in Kerala due to the outbreak of the virus in May.

It is noted that as a precautionary measure, colleges, and other educational institutions in Kozhikode have been asked to remain shut down till June 12.