Nipah outbreak: Kerala probes deaths since June to trace source

Kerala Health Minister Veena George has stated that a total of 485 people are currently on the Nipah contact list in the state.

This includes 192 people in Malappuram district, 114 in Kozhikode, 176 in Palakkad, 2 in Ernakulam, and 1 in Kannur.

In Malappuram, 18 people are currently under treatment, with one person in the ICU. So far, 42 samples from Malappuram have tested negative. In Palakkad, three people are undergoing treatment in isolation, and seven samples have tested negative to date.

Among those under observation, 26 are in the highest risk category, and 117 are in the high risk category. The Nipah-positive patient—a 38-year-old woman from Thachanattukara—is undergoing treatment in the ICU at Government Medical College, Kozhikode.

The test results of three more individuals in isolation at Palakkad Medical College, suspected to be infected with Nipah, came back negative today. These include a child admitted to the hospital on July 6 and their accompanying relatives. The child was on the contact list of the infected woman from Thachanattukara. With this, all symptomatic individuals on her contact list have now tested negative.

A meeting to assess the situation—chaired by the Health Minister—was also attended by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, the State Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM), the Director of the Health Department, the Director of Medical Education, Additional Directors, District Collectors, District Medical Officers, and officials from various departments.

To trace the origin of the current outbreak, the deaths that occurred in the region since June 1  will be reviewed. The causes of death in cases of encephalitis over the past six months will also be reviewed. The investigation will be carried out with the cooperation of private hospitals and the Indian Medical Association.

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