345 people on Nipah contact list in Kerala

A total of 345 people have been put on the Nipah contact list in the State, a statement issued by Health Minister Veena George after a high-level meeting here on Friday.

This includes 211 people in Malappuram, 91 in Palakkad, and 43 in Kozhikode. All those on the contact list at Kozhikode are health-care workers

Two persons from Palakkad and Malappuram suspected of having Nipah after preliminary examination of samples at Malappuram and Kozhikode Medical Colleges had tested positive. Following this, the sample from Palakkad sent to the National Institute of Virology at Pune was confirmed as positive.

However, the Health department had initiated all control measures in Palakkad even before the official conformation came. The route map of the Nipah-positive person in Palakkad has now been released and Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts have been put on alert.

Meanwhile, experts cautioned people that roosting bats should not be disturbed by bursting crackers or by any other means. The department directed the affected districts to strengthen contact tracing by focussing around hospitals and other health-care institutions and to ensure that none are missed when preparing the contact lists.

Both patients in Malappuram and Palakkad began showing symptoms from June 25 and 26. Health workers will start collecting local field information from the three weeks preceding this period. Efforts will be to find if there have been any pneumonia or encephalitis deaths in the localities.

The department has established State and district control rooms in connection with the Nipah outbreaks. In all three districts, 26 committees each have been set up. The help of the police is also being sought to prepare the contact list.

The district Collectors have declared containment zones in Palakkad and Malappuram. People here should necessarily wear masks in public places.

Those who participated in the high-level meeting convened by the Health Minister included the Additional Chief Secretary (Health), NHM State Mission Director, Director of Health Services, Director of Medical Education, Additional Directors, District Collectors, District Medical Officers, police officials, and other department officials.