Nipah Virus: Relief For Kerala As 11 More Samples Test Negative
In a major relief for Kerala, racing against time to contain the potential spread of the deadly Nipah virus with two reported deaths, 11 more samples have tested negative in the state.
With this, samples of a total of 94 people who were deemed to be in the high-risk category due to close contact with Nipah-positive patients have turned out to be negative.
Six positive Nipah cases in Kerala
Until now, six Nipah-positive cases have been identified in Kerala's Kozhikode, out of which two have already succumbed.
Four people, including two minors and a health worker who?tested positive for Nipah, are currently undergoing treatment.
Another 21 people are put in isolation at Kozhikode Government Medical College.
"On Saturday 11, the results of high-risk cases came, and all of them were negative. At present, 21 high-risk patients are under isolation at the Kozhikode Medical College hospital and two at a private hospital. The nine-year-old boy, who tested positive and is the son of the first person who died of Nipah, is stable and improving. Nineteen teams of officials are working hard across the district," Kerala Health Minister Veena George said on Saturday.
All Nipah protocols in place
The Health Minister also said that all Nipah protocols are in place in Kozhikode, and the situation is being managed well.
"We have set in order a full-fledged protocol to be followed in treatment, isolation, and discharge in Nipah. Extensive collection of samples is being done, and those who test positive will be screened once more," she said.
Infection of index patient still a mystery?
While more samples testing negative for Nipah is excellent news for Kerala, the authorities are struggling to identify the source of infection of the index patient.
"Efforts are being made to find the source of the virus in the index case, which was the person who died on August 30. He had been showing symptoms since August 22," Veena said.
The index patient, identified as Muhammad Ali, had sought treatment for fever but also had a liver disease. He died on August 30 of multiple organ failure.
The second fatality was a bystander accompanying a relative to the hospital where Ali was admitted.
Of the four other Nipah-positive cases, two are Ali's children, and one is his brother-in-law. A health worker at the hospital where Ali had sought treatment has also tested positive for Nipah.
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