Central team rushed to Kerala after boy dies of Nipah virus

In Kerala,a12-year old boy dies of Nipah infection.Two health workers of Kozhikode who treated the deceased boy infected by Nipah virus,were found to be symptomatic.Speaking to media persons after a high level meeting, State Health Minister Veena George  said 158 persons have been identified who were in contact with the boy. Of these, 20 were in the high risk category and will be admitted on Sunday to the Nipah block, at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.The  minister said unfortunately, the boy passed away at 5 in the morning. The condition of the child was critical on Saturday night. 
She said the National Institute of Virology, Pune has agreed to set up a lab at the Medical College hospital for the preliminary testing of cases. The confimation tests will be done at Pune, and the results will be made available within 12 hours. The ICMR has assured that the monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of the Nipah virus will be made available within a week.The authorities have set up a Nipah Control Room in Kozhikode, with the following telephone numbers: 0495-2382500 and 0495-2382800. Meanwhile, the cremation of the boy took place adhering to stringent Covid protocols.

In the wake of the virus resurfacing in Kerala, the Centre has advised some immediate public health measures which include active case search in the family, village and areas with similar topography especially in Malappuram.The measures also include active contact tracing for any contacts in the past 12 days, strict quarantine of the contacts and isolation of any suspects and collection and transportation of samples for lab testing, the ministry said. The first Nipah virus disease outbreak in South India was reported from Kozhikode district of Kerala on May 19, 2018. There have been 17 deaths and 18 confirmed cases as of June 1, 2018.