Saudi Arabia bans fruit and vegetables from Kerala fearing Nipah

Saudi Arabia has banned imports of frozen and processed fruit and vegetables from Kerala, citing the risk from an outbreak of Nipah virus.

Image used for representational purpose. 

GENEVA: Saudi Arabia has banned imports of frozen and processed fruit and vegetables from Kerala, citing the risk from an outbreak of Nipah virus.

This was revealed by Saudi Arabia in a filing published by World Trade Organisation on Thursday.

Nipah has killed at least 15 people in Kerala, but no cases of the virus have been found outside the state.

There is no vaccine for the virus, which is spread through bodily fluids and can cause encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, according to the World Health Organisation.