Nipah virus kills 12-year-old boy who recently attacked Covid-19 in Kozhikode, Kerala

Kerala's health machinery on high alert after 12-year-old boy dies to Nipah virus

State Health Minister Veena George on Sunday said a 12-year-old boy died of Nipah virus infection at a hospital in Kerala.

Samples of the boy, sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, confirmed the presence of the Nipah virus.

The central government has rushed a team from the National Center for Disease Control to the state, which will arrive Sunday. This committee will provide technical support to the state.

Nipah virus is spread by the saliva of fruit bats.

The minister, who gave details of the case, told reporters, "Unfortunately, the boy died at around 5am. The condition of the child was worrying on Saturday night. We set up various teams and started tracking. Isolate those who were the boy's primary contacts." The minister said the infection was confirmed by the Pune NIV on Saturday night.

"Three samples of plasma, CSF and serum were affected. He was admitted to the hospital with severe fever four days ago. But his health deteriorated on Saturday. We sent his samples for testing yesterday," the minister said.

Ms George said the boy's close contacts showed no signs at the moment and that the health department had already identified the baby's contacts.

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➡️ A case of Nipah Virus detected in Kozhikode district of Kerala

➡️ Centre rushes team to Kerala to support State in Public Health Measures.https://t.co/532kXyFBzZ pic.twitter.com/S8A4nl45q3
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) September 5, 2021

The health department is closely monitoring. Special officers have been appointed and special committees have been set up. The patient was first taken to a private hospital, then to a medical college, from where he was again transferred to a private hospital. So we found all his contacts. The friends he played with in his circle, his relatives and others, the health department have identified and traced these connections, "said Ms George.

Hospital sources said the boy would be cremated today following health protocol

Police have cordoned off the three-kilometer perimeter around the boy's house.

In the wake of the re-emergence of the virus in Kerala, the Center has advised some immediate public health measures, including intensive prosecution of the family, village and especially in areas with similar terrain in Malappuram.

These activities include active contact detection for any contacts over the past 12 days, rigorous isolation of contacts and isolation of suspects and collection and transport of samples for laboratory testing.

The first case of Nipah virus in South India was reported on May 19, 2018 from Kozhikode district of Kerala. As of June 1, 2018, there are 17 deaths and 18 confirmed cases.