Kochi: An expert team has completed preliminary investigation into the virus that killed three of a family in Kozhikkode.

The first report is expected to be out tomorrow.

A team led by Dr Arun Kumar, head of virology department of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, visited the affected area.

The team held meeting with ministers K K Shailaja, T P Ramakrishnan and others and suggested to keep ready sufficient ventilators in Kozhikkode Medical College.

A task force including private doctors and government doctors has been formed. A control room has been initiated.

Samples from those who died have been sent to national virology institute, Pune, and it is expected tonight.

The initial report said that the cause of the death could be viral encephalitis with myocarditis triggered by Nipah virus spread by bats.

Swalih, 26, Sabith, 23, and Mariam, 50 were those who fell victims to the virus while some more are infected and are admitted at a private hospital in Kozhikode.

This was first reported in Malaysia in 1998. There is no medicines for treating it.