Kerala Nipah outbreak: 37 people tested negative so far, 268 on contact list

Malappuram (Kerala) [India], September 19 (ANI): Kerala Health Minister Veena George said on Thursday that one more person's test result related to Nipah infection has turned negative.
"With this, a total of 37 people have tested negative so far," George said.
A high-level meeting led by Minister Veena George evaluated the current situation on Thursday.
Kerala Health Minister's office further informed that 268 people are on the contact list till now.
"Among the contact list, 81 are healthcare workers. There are 177 people on the primary contact list and 90 people on the secondary contact list. Of the primary contact list, 134 people fall under the high-risk category. Two people showing symptoms have been admitted to Manjeri Medical College Hospital today. Including these two, six people are receiving treatment at Manjeri Medical College Hospital, while 21 are admitted to Perinthalmanna M.E.S. Medical College Hospital," it said.
It further mentioned that those on the contact list are being provided with adequate mental support.
"Today, 265 people, including 40 individuals, were offered mental health support through the call center. As part of the preventive measures, field surveys in the Mampad, Thiruvali, and Vandoor panchayats have been completed. Surveys have been conducted in a total of 7,953 households, and 175 fever cases have been reported through the survey," it added.
Earlier on September 17, Veena George met Union Health Minister JP Nadda in Delhi regarding the Nipah outbreak in Malappuram.
It is important to note that outbreaks of Nipah Virus Disease (NiVD) have been reported in Kerala in the past, with the most recent one occurring in 2023 in the Kozhikode district. (ANI)