Kerala's Vigilance: Containing the Nipah Virus

Kerala Health Minister Veena George announced that close contacts of a 14-year-old boy who died from Nipah tested negative for the virus. The state remains vigilant with ongoing restrictions, mobile labs, and surveillance teams. Legal actions will be taken against misinformation campaigns, and a special action calendar is being prepared.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George announced on Tuesday that test results of the close contacts of a 14-year-old boy who succumbed to Nipah virus are negative.

Concerns remain high as nineteen individuals, including five in the high-risk category, await their results today. Minister George emphasized that while it's comforting that close contacts tested negative, imposed restrictions will continue in the affected area.

The minister called for public vigilance, including mandatory mask-wearing in public spaces. The state has a contact list of 406 people, with 194 categorized as high-risk. The deceased boy was under treatment for Nipah before dying on Sunday morning.

Efforts are ramped up with a mobile lab from Pune Virology Institute operational in Kozhikode and potentially in Manjeri. Fever surveillance teams have visited over 7,200 houses, gathering crucial data. Additionally, a team from the National Institute of Virology is monitoring bats for Nipah antibodies.

The government has warned against misinformation spread via social media, with legal actions set for violators. A special action calendar is also in development for future Nipah outbreak prevention.

Historically, Nipah outbreaks in Kerala were recorded in Kozhikode in 2018, 2021, and 2023 and in Ernakulam in 2019. Antibodies have been found in bats across multiple districts supporting these outbreaks.

(With inputs from agencies.)