This story is from September 9, 2021

Nipah virus: 36 more contacts test negative in Kozhikode

In a sign of relief, 36 more close contacts of the 12-year-old boy from Chathamangalam, who died of Nipah infection on Sunday, tested negative on Wednesday.
Nipah virus: 36 more contacts test negative in Kozhikode
Health minister Veena George visits the temporary Nipah testing lab set up at the Kozhikode Medical College, on Wednesday
KOZHIKODE: In a sign of relief, 36 more close contacts of the 12-year-old boy from Chathamangalam, who died of Nipah infection on Sunday, tested negative on Wednesday.
They include the samples of five symptomatic contacts tested at National Institute of Virology, Pune and 31 samples that were tested at Kozhikode medical college. The results of 15 contacts taken for testing at the medical college on Wednesday afternoon are pending.
Since 46 samples taken from high-risk contacts of the deceased boy have tested negative so far, health minister Veena George said that there was no need to have fear and that we should continue to exercise extreme vigil.
The minister said that it is a positive development that all the samples tested so far have turned negative.
The health department has added eight more persons to the contact list of the boy, taking the total number of contacts to 265 of which 62 are in the high-risk category. They were admitted to the special Nipah ward set up at Kozhikode medical college. Among the high-risk contacts, 12 are mildly symptomatic but also stable.
George said that the contacts at Kozhikode medical college, who have tested negative, will have to remain in the hospital for three more days following which they will be allowed to return to their homes to continue their remaining period in isolation.
Meanwhile, the health department continued its enhanced Nipah surveillance in the containment zone declared around the house of the deceased boy for the second day with health workers and volunteers visiting a total of 4,995 houses and collecting information on 27,536 residents. As many as 44 persons have been found to have symptoms of fever during the survey but they are not contacts of the deceased boy.

“Also we could not find a case of unnatural death with Nipah-like symptoms from the area. The surveillance drive in the containment zone is over and it will continue in areas under Mavoor tomorrow as well. A mobile lab will be pressed in to check those having symptoms,” the minister said.
Health department will recommence Covid vaccination drive in the district which had been suspended for the past 48 hours. However, the vaccination drive will remain suspended at Nipah containment zones. The minister added that those having fever or other symptoms should not take vaccination without the nod from health workers.
It has been decided to provide food kits to the contacts who are under home isolation and one volunteer each has been deputed for the 265 contacts. They will take care of their needs and also monitor their health status.
Meanwhile an all-party meeting was held on Wednesday to discuss Nipah preventive measures. The minister said that attempts to forcibly drive bats should be avoided as it will induce stress in bats and could cause shedding of viruses.
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