Thiruvananthapuram, July 11(BPNS)

The Zika toll in Kerala has touched 18 numbers after a 22-month-old toddler, a 29-year-old health worker, and a 46-year-old man were tested positive for the disease. This was announced by the Kerala health minister Veena George on Sunday by a press statement.

The minister also said that out of the 27 samples sent for testing in two batches 26 have turned negative. In the third batch which was sent for testing three were found positive on Sunday, the minister said.

Veena George said that the Pune National Institute of Virology (NIV) has directed the state health department to collect the blood samples of those affected by the virus. The minister in the statement said that the state has 27 government labs which can conduct RTPCR tests and the facilities at these laboratories can be used for testing Zika virus tests if more testing kits reach the state.

The minister also said that instructions have been given to government hospitals to conduct tests patients, especially pregnant women with fever, rashes, and body pain.

The health department in a statement said that the state has received 2100 testing kits from NIV, Pune and of this 1000 have been given to Thiruvananthapuram and 300 each to Thrissur and Kozhikode and 500 to NIV, Alappuzha.