There is currently no evidence that food is a likely source or route of transmission of the virus.

The Kerala Government constituted the Kerala Cashew Board with the aim of reviving the traditional cashew sector in the state, which provides employment to over 2.5 lakh people.

The struggling cashew sector employs two lakh workers, many of them belonging to the BPL category. Only a few of the 300-odd cashew factories in Kerala paid their workers last week, according to industry sources.

Cashew nut prices are hovering around $1,300 per tonne. Except for a brief period, the prices of raw nut bought from Ghana and Ivory Coast have remained above $1,000.

The cashew processing industry sees the sharp escalation in price as the main reason for the depressed demand.

Cashew nut prices have climbed to record levels ahead of the festival season due to higher demand and lower availability.