India, March 13 -- Five students of a private school in Ernakulam district of Kerala were hospitalised on Wednesday after they allegedly showed symptoms of viral meningitis, a medical officer said.

The students belong to classes 1 and 2 of a private school in Kalamassery area of Kochi and have been admitted to different private hospitals in the city.

"We have realised that it's a viral illness, but we need to confirm the kind of virus. The symptoms are similar to meningitis. We have collected the body fluid samples and sent them for testing at the National Institute for Virology, Alappuzha. We are waiting for the reports," the district medical officer told HT.

Following the health scare, the private school has been directed to temporar...