Restrictions in containment zones will continue as per protocol, the minister added | Image: Veena George’s official Facebook account
Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Tuesday said 13 people who were in contact with a 24-year-old man who died of the Nipah virus in Malappuram district last week have tested negative for the disease.
Of the 175 people in the contact list of the deceased man, samples of 13 people, falling in the high-risk category, tested negative at the Manjeri Government Medical College in Malappuram, he told reporters here.
The Minister said that the health department is making all possible attempts to control the spread of the disease by identifying maximum number of people who came in contact with him and providing them with preventive medicines.
“Samples are being collected from high-risk individuals and those with symptoms and are being sent for analysis. Samples will be collected from more people today,” he said.
Although the possibility of spreading the disease is unlikely, samples from every person who shows symptoms will be tested, he said.
George further said that the state health department has been in constant touch with the Centre and health authorities in Karnataka, where the deceased man was studying.
Those who were in contact with him, including his classmates and friends, were tracked down with their support, he said.
Restrictions in containment zones will continue as per protocol, the minister added.
The Kerala government has imposed restrictions in containment zones in Malappuram, where a 24-year-old youth recently died due to Nipah infection.
Five wards in two panchayats of Malappuram district have been declared containment zones and instructions have been issued not to gather in large numbers.
District authorities have asked shops in containment zones to close at 7 pm. Cinema halls, schools, colleges, madrassas, anganwadis and educational centres will remain closed in containment zones.
Meanwhile, in Malappuram district, partial restrictions have been imposed.
Authorities have asked people to wear masks in public. Instructions have also been given to reduce the number of participants at weddings, funerals and other events in the district.
The 24-year-old man, who died on September 9, was infected with the Nipah virus.
Nipah outbreaks have been reported in Kozhikode district in 2018, 2021 and 2023 and in Ernakulam district in 2019.
Antibodies against Nipah virus were detected in bats from Kozhikode, Wayanad, Idukki, Malappuram and Ernakulam districts.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First published: September 17, 2024 | 15:18 IS
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