Malappuram. A 24-year-old man died of Nipah virus infection in a private hospital in Kerala’s Malappuram district recently. Kerala Health Minister Veena George gave this information on Sunday. George said that Nipah infection was suspected when the regional medical officer investigated the cause of death.
“The available samples were immediately sent for testing and the results confirmed the infection,” the minister said in a video message. The Malappuram resident, who had come to the state from Bengaluru, died on September 9, following which his available samples were sent to the laboratory of Kozhikode Medical College and Hospital for testing.
Also read: What did Ravneet Singh Bittu say about Rahul Gandhi, it can cause a big uproar!
Malappuram health officials said the results from the Kozhikode Medical College had confirmed the infection, following which the Health Minister held a high-level meeting on Saturday night itself and took necessary steps as per protocol. Meanwhile, the results from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune on Sunday confirmed the infection.
The minister said 16 committees were formed on Saturday night itself and a list of 151 people who had come in contact with the infected person was also prepared. He said the person had travelled to various places with his friends and those who came in close contact with him have been put in isolation.
Also read: When the helicopter did not fly, PM Modi reached Jamshedpur by road, called these three parties enemies of Jharkhand
George said, “Five people kept in isolation have mild fever and symptoms. Their samples have been sent for testing.” A boy from Malappuram undergoing treatment for Nipah infection died on July 21. This was the first confirmed case of Nipah infection in the state this year.
