Nipah Virus: “330 people on contact list, 101 in high-risk category,” says Kerala Health Minister

Malappuram (Kerala) [India], July 21 (ANI): After a 14-year-old boy died due to the Nipah Virus, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said on Sunday that seven samples were tested and all came negative, adding that as of now, there are 330 people on the contact list.

She also mentioned that 101 out of 330 are in the high-risk category.

“We tested seven samples today and all are negative. As per today’s assessment, there are 330 people on the contact list. 68 of them are health workers, 101 are in the high-risk category and 7 are in IP admission. Out of this, 6 were in direct contact with the deceased child. One of them doesn’t have an epidemiological link but we tested the sample since the person was showing symptoms and was from the nearby area. But that sample is also negative,” she said.

“The Health Department is continuing this work of testing the samples of those in the contact list. In the Paandikad panchayat (epidemiologic centre) we checked 307 houses. There are 18 fever cases. It’s monsoon season so fever is common. None of these were in contact with the boy. In Aanakkayam panchayat, 310 houses were visited. 10 fever cases were reported. None of them have an epidemiological link,” George added.

The 14-year-old boy who tested positive for Nipah virus at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital succumbed to the disease on Sunday afternoon, Health Minister Veena George stated.

“A case of Nipah virus has been detected in Mallapuram district of Kerala. A 14-year-old boy from Mallapuram exhibited AES symptoms and was admitted to a healthcare facility in Perinthalmanna before being transferred to a higher health center in Kozhikode. However, the patient later succumbed to the disease. The samples were sent to NIV, Pune which has confirmed a Nipah virus infection,” Govt of India said in a press release.

The Centre has advised immediate public health measures to be taken by the state government, such as active case search in the family of the confirmed case, the neighbourhood, and areas with similar topography. The centre has also advised active contact tracing (for any contacts) during the past 12 days, strict quarantine of the contacts in the case, isolation of any suspects, and collection and transportation of samples for lab testing.