46 more test negative for Nipah, Kerala minister says worst is over

THE MINISTER SAID SAMPLES OF ALL CLOSE CONTACTS OF A BOY WHO

DIED DUE TO NIPAH, INCLUDING HIS PARENTS AND HEALTH WORKERS, WERE NEGATIVE

Fortysix people with symptoms of Nipah tested negative on Wednesday in Kozikode, said Kerala health minister Veena George, adding the north Kerala district is almost out of a serious outbreak.

The minister said samples of all close contacts of a boy who died due to Nipah on Sunday, including his parents and health workers, were negative, adding that the government would maintain strict vigil for three more weeks. Since a majority of immediate contacts are out of infection, George said the worst was over.

“It is a great relief all samples turned negative so far. But we will not lower our guard. All restrictions will be in force till the window period of the virus (3 weeks) is over,” the minister said, adding 21 more results will be expected any time while 50 people with symptoms are still in the hospital and another 190 under observation.

She said that going by the preliminary reports, bats are suspected to be the main carrier, but more studies needed to pinpoint the triggering agent. Many experts said the affected areas are also infested with wild boars and their samples will also be taken for testing.

A team from the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases Laboratory from Bhopal, which has arrived in Kozikode city, will co-ordinate more such studies, George said.

Forest minister AK Saseendran, also camping in the north Kerala city, said special permission will be granted to capture boars and other wild animals for testing. Samples of domestic animals and pet were also taken to weed out suspicion, Saseendran said.

Expert said strict protocols in place due to Covid-19, like masking, physical distancing and no overcrowding, helped the state to blunt the impact of zoonotic disease again.

“Due to Covid-19 protocol this time, Nipah transmission will be limited. Prevention technique of Covid-19 really helped in fighting Nipah also,” said immunologist and public health expert D Padmanabha Shenoy.

Like Shenoy, many experts said the main source of the virus should be identified at any cost to check its further outbreak. This is the third time the state is witnessing the onset of virus in four years. In 2018, the viral infection claimed 17 lives in Kozhikode; in 2019, a youth was infected in Ernakulam but later cured; and in 2021, a 12-year-old boy died due to Nipah virus in Kozhikode.