Close contacts of child who died of Nipah test negative for virus

Kozhikode

Kerala heaved a sigh of relief on Tuesday as the testresults of those who came in close contact with the 12-year-old child whosuccumbed to Nipah virus infection returned negative.

State Health Minister Veena George said the test results of the samples takenfrom the child's eight close contacts are negative.

"The samples of parents and healthcare workers, who were symptomatic, havebeen tested negative. It's a moment of relief that the results of those whowere in close contact with the child came out negative," the minister saidat a press meet.

George said there are currently 48 people in the high risk category who are ata medical college isolation ward and their health condition is"stable".

Five more samples are being tested in the facility arranged at the medicalcollege by Pune NIV, the minister said. Out of the 48, 31 people are fromKozhikode, four from Wayanad, eight from Malappuram, three from Kannur and oneperson each from Palakkad and Ernakulam districts.

The minister also informed the media that more samples will be tested onTuesday. The health department on Monday said 251 contacts of the child hadbeen identified, of which 129 are healthcare workers.

The department has been on a high alert since the 12-year-old boy fromKozhikode succumbed to Nipah virus infection on Sunday. The area within athree-kilometre radius from the house of the deceased child has been declared acontainment zone. This includes wards from five panchayats.

The health departments in four districts -- Kozhikode, neighbouring Kannur,Malappuram and Wayanad -- have been put on high alert.