Thiruvananthapuram, July 4 -- Health authorities in Kerala have issued an alert in three districts -- Kozhikode, Malappuram and Palakkad after two suspected cases of the Nipah virus were detected.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that the suspected cases of Nipah virus are from Palakkad and Malappuram districts.

"An alert has been issued in three districts of Kerala, namely Kozhikode, Malappuram and Palakkad, in connection with two new Nipah virus cases," she said.

The tests conducted at medical college hospitals in Malappuram and Kozhikode have confirmed the infections. Samples have also been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for further confirmation.

Even as a final confirmation is awaited, the governm...