Kerala Battles Nipah Virus Outbreak: Latest Updates and Preventive Measures

Kerala Health Minister Veena George confirmed negative test results for the close contacts of a 14-year-old boy who succumbed to Nipah virus. The state remains vigilant with isolation protocols and ongoing preventive measures, including surveillance, mental support, and public awareness. Legal actions against misinformation campaigns have also been initiated.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George announced on Tuesday that the test results for close contacts of the 14-year-old boy who died of Nipah virus were negative.

Seventeen swabs tested for Nipah infection came back negative, George confirmed, providing some respite amidst the outbreak in Malappuram, where the teenager succumbed to the virus on Sunday.

Despite the negative test results, the minister emphasized the need to continue isolation protocols for a 21-day quarantine period. Legal action under public health laws will be taken against those violating the protocol, she warned.

Minister George shared that 460 individuals remain on the contact list, including 220 high-risk cases, with 142 of them being healthcare workers. Nineteen people are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals, with 17 in Manjeri Medical College and two in Thiruvananthapuram.

A medical team from the National Institute of Virology, Pune, led by Dr. R Balasubramanian, has arrived to collect samples from bats to detect the virus's presence. If confirmed, genetic sequencing will follow.

An investigation into misinformation campaigns about Nipah is underway, with two cases registered by the police. The health minister assured legal action against those spreading false information online.