Kerala Successfully Contains Nipah Virus Spread

Kerala Health Minister Veena George announced that eight samples from contacts of a 14-year-old deceased Nipah virus patient have tested negative. The patient, who was treated at Kozhikode Medical College, died on July 21. So far, 66 samples have tested negative, with 472 people under surveillance.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George announced on Thursday that the test results of eight samples from the contacts of a deceased 14-year-old Nipah virus patient have returned negative.

The boy, hailing from Malappuram and treated at Kozhikode Medical College, succumbed to the infection on July 21.

After attending a Nipah review meeting at Malappuram Collector's Conference Hall online, George stated that thus far, 66 samples have tested negative.

However, two more individuals have been admitted to hospitals, bringing the total number under treatment to eight in Manjeri and Kozhikode medical colleges. There are 472 people on the contact list, with 220 categorized under high-risk.

The minister added that health workers completed house visits in Pandikkad and Anakkayam panchayats and visited 27,908 houses as part of fever surveys, providing mental health assistance to 227 people on that day alone.

The health department stressed the importance of a 21-day isolation for those recently discharged. A Central team of health experts assessed the situation on Wednesday.