Nipah Virus: 16 people test negative, says Kerala Health Minister

Malappuram: Kerala Health Minister Veena George said that all 16 people who came into contact with a 24-year-old who died from the Nipah virus last week have tested negative for the disease.  

No panic situation prevailed in Malappuram district so far, Kerala Health Minister Veena George has said.

According to a UNI report, she said all 16 samples tests, conducted for the Nipah disease tested negative, on Tuesday.

The Minister said as many as 255 people, including 171 are in primary and 84 are in the secondary contact list, including 50 in high-risk category. Out of which 77 are health workers.

She said the contact list includes 30 people from the Acharya College, Bangalore where a 24-year-old PG student died at EMS Medical College Hospital at Perinthalmanna on September 9.

Also Read:14-year-old boy dies of Nipah Virus in Kozhikode Hospital

The Minister said no panic situation prevails in Malappuram district, so far and Containment zones have been declared by District Collector V R Vinod as per the Nipah protocol in five wards including four wards in Thirvali and in one ward at Mampad grama panchayat, news agency UNI reported.

Minister said, four people have been admitted to Manjeri Medical College hospital with fever symptoms and 21 people at EMS Medical College hospital at Perinthalmanna.

She said, 30 isolation rooms, 6 ICU beds, and 6 ventilators have been prepared in Manjeri Medical College Hospital for the treatment of Nipah suspected patients. She said Bio safetly level-2 Virology lab (VRDC) has been started at Manjeri Medical College.

As many as 146 teams of Health workers conducted field survey in 4981 houses including 1576 in Mampad grama panchayat and 1711 in Wandoor and 1694 in Thiruvali grama panchayat.

A total of 107 fever cases including 28 in Mampad, 39 in Wandoor and 40 in Thirvali have been reported on Tuesday, however, none of them are included in the primary contact list, adds UNI.

The Health Department staff provides psychological support to the 214 people in the contact list through the call centre.

Health Minister Veena George reviewed the situation at a meeting with District Collector V R Vinod, District Police Chief R Viswanath, Health Department Director Dr KG Reena, and other top district officials.

In a precautionary move, the Tamil Nadu government has set up medical check-up counters at border areas in Nilgiri, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Theni, Thenkasi, and Kanyakumari starting Tuesday. 

It was on September 9, a 24-year-old PG student of Acharya College in Bangalore died at EMS Medical College Hospital at Perinthalmanna and National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune confirmed the youth to be infected with the Nipah virus on September 15.

Also Read:University of Oxford scientists launch first human vaccine trials for deadly Nipah virus