14-year-old boy tests positive for Nipah Virus in Kerala : Health Minister

Malappuram: Kerala Health Minister Veena George has said that a 14-year-old boy of Chembrasseri in Pandikkad Panchayat in this district was tested positive for Nipah Virus.

The Minister said this is the first case of Nipah Virus in the state in this year. The boy was tested positive after his sample result was received from National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune.

Addressing a press conference after holding a meeting with health department and district administrative officials at Pandikkad this evening, Veena George said, at present the boy, who was undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (KMCH) is in serious condition and on ventilator support.

The boy's parents and uncle were admitted in the isolation ward at KMCH.

All the three have no symptoms of fever or other health issues, so far. High and low risk contact persons list will be prepared, she added.

A team of doctors and Health Minister was camping in Malappuram district to oversee the situation and take stock of the Nipah Virus.

A Nipah Virus control room was opened in Malappuram district and a health protocol was imposed, to wear a mask and avoid hospital visit in the district.

Nipah protocol has to be maintained around 3 kilometers in the nearby areas of the house of the boy in Pandikkad panchayat and the health department is gathering the details of the primary and secondary contacts to prepare a list in this regard.

An isolation ward was also set up in Manjeri Medical college for the observation of the contact list persons.

Earlier, two tests have been conducted in the state including at Virology lab in the KMCH and truenat test conducted at a private hospital in Kozhikode tested as positive and the blood sample have been sent to Pune NIV. The official confirmation was announced in the evening after receiving the report.

The boy sought treatment from four hospitals initially including from a paediatrician in a clinic at Pandikkad and later admitted at a private hospital in Pandikkad on July 15 with high fever and chest infection. After the health condition worsened he was admitted at Perinthalmanna Moulana hospital.

On July 19 evening, he was shifted to a MIMS hospital at Kozhikode.

According to media reports, Prima facie it was suspected that the source of the Nipah virus was affected to the boy from Wayanad, following a tour with his ninth standard classmates of his school last week and ate Ambazhanga (Indian Hog Plum).

This is the fifth outbreak of Nipah Virus in the state since 2018. (17 deaths reported in 2019, (one death in 2021 and the last case was in September 2023 where two died from a family.