THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister Veena George has instructed the police to seek assistance in locating the contact list of individuals confirmed with the Nipah virus using their mobile phone location data. This directive was issued during the Nipah review meeting.

Today, samples from 15 individuals on the high-risk contact list were sent for testing. It is mandatory to wear masks in Kozhikode district. The mobile team from the N I V Pune is prepared, and the mobile team from the Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology is also en route. In case of an increase in cases, isolation wards have been established in private hospitals as part of Plan B. The Minister has instructed the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited to ensure an additional supply of medicines and safety materials.

The review meeting was chaired by Ministers Veena George and Muhammad Riaz. Minister Mohammad Riaz also announced that an extensive meeting will be held tomorrow.

As part of Nipah surveillance, 234 new people were identified today. A total of 950 people are on the Nipah contact list, with 213 of them categorized as high risk. There are 287 health workers on the contact list, and 4 people in private hospitals are considered high-risk contacts. Additionally, 17 people are under observation at Kozhikode Medical College. Information necessary for tracing the route of the individual who was identified yesterday has been collected. An expert team along with health workers and personnel from the community medicine department conducted field visits and gathered the required data. As part of the Tele Manas program, health workers contacted high-risk individuals and provided psychological support as stated by the Minister.

The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary of the Health Department, the Director of the National Health Mission, the Kozhikode District Collector, the Director of the Health Department, the Director of the Medical Education Department, Additional Directors, the District Medical Officer, the District Program Manager and others.