Nipah virus in Kerala: High alert after 12-year-old boy dies

• Kerala health system is on heightened alert with the advent of Nipah virus amid Covid-19 pandemic. Authorities have geared up to check spread of the virus in Kozhikode & surrounding areas. This comes after a 12-year-old boy from nearby Mavoor died of Nipah in wee hours on Sunday. State health minister said a lockdown has been imposed around 3 kms of the child's house. “We have identified 188 contacts till now, 20 of them are high-risk contacts. The high-risk contacts are being shifted to the Kozhikode Medical College. All samples of the boy were found to be positive for Nipah by NIV in Pune. We have formulated an action plan, the surveillance team is also working. We are enforcing lockdown restrictions in around 3 kms of the child's house,” Kerala Health Minister Veena George said. George added that two of the high-risk contacts have symptoms & both are healthcare workers. One is employed at a private hospital, other is a staff of Kozhikode Medical College hospital. Kozhikode hospital, where the boy was being treated since September 1, is put on alert. The minister said the boy was earlier admitted to a private hospital with high fever a few days ago. The 12-year-old died at 5 in the morning & his cremation was held at 10 am under strict protocol. In 2018, Nipah had claimed 17 lives in Kozhikode but later it was localised & contained effectively.