9/5/2021- 2:00 p.m.
At the burial of the 12-year-old boy who died due to Nipah in Kerala
A 12-year-old boy, who was admitted to a hospital in Kerala’s Kozhikode with symptoms of the Nipah virus, passed away on Sunday morning.
The boy, who hailed from Choolur in Chathamangalam panchayat, was admitted to the hospital on September 1. His samples, which were sent to the Pune National Institute of Virology, confirmed the presence of the Nipah virus.
Seventeen persons on his contact list have been placed under observation and will be subjected to testing.
The Central Government has rushed a team of the National Centre for Disease Control to Kerala. The team will provide technical support to the state.
The state government also held a high-level meeting of health officials late Saturday night following the information about the Nipah infection.
Health Minister Veena George said that those in the primary contact list of the deceased don’t show any symptoms but are being monitored.
“Three samples plasma, CSF and serum were found infected. He was admitted to the hospital with a heavy fever four days ago.
But on Saturday, his condition became worse. We had sent his samples for testing the day before yesterday,” the minister said. Neighbouring Kannur and Malappuram districts to remain cautious, George added.
The authorities have declared a health alert in the district and cordoned off about three kilometres around the house of the deceased child.
Pazhoor (ward 9) of Chathamangalam panchayat has been fully closed and nearby wards of Nayarkuzhy, Koolimad, Puthiyadam wards were partially closed, the sources said, adding that police have been deployed to restrict vehicle and people movement in or out from these places.
