11 persons show symptoms of Nipah infection: samples of eight persons sent for testing, 251 on contact list

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George on Monday said that 251 persons are in the contact list of the 12-year-old who died of Nipah infection in Chathamangalam. The minister made the announcement at a press conference after the Nipah review meeting. Of these, 11 have shown symptoms of Nipah, the minister said. Samples of eight people have been sent to NIV for testing. The test results will be obtained today. Samples of the three will be sent today. The minister added that 54 people came in close contact with the child. The minister said that 121 people on the contact list were health workers.

The condition of the mother of the child who died of infection is improving. House-to-house monitoring will be conducted in Chathamangalam from tomorrow. At present, the health condition of those with symptoms is satisfactory. A testing lab has been set up at Medical College, the health minister said.

A team from the Animal Welfare Department visited the residence of the deceased child. There are rambutan trees near the house and the presence of bats. The minister said in a press conference that the half-eaten rambutan had been taken for examination. A new team will come to Kerala to find the source of the disease. The NIV team from Bhopal will arrive on Wednesday.

The State Nipah Control Cell has been set up to strengthen the efforts to combat the Nipah virus in other districts as well. The situation will be assessed at a meeting of the health department on consecutive days. The minister also said that other states will be provided guidance and training to combat Nipah.