Kozhikode. A 14-year-old boy infected with Nipah virus in Malappuram, Kerala died on Sunday. He was being treated here. State Health Minister Veena George gave this information. George said that the boy was from Pandikkad and he suffered a heart attack at 10.50 am on Sunday, but he could not be saved. George said, “He was unconscious and was put on ventilator. After the heart attack, a lot of efforts were made to save him, but all efforts failed and he died at 11.30 am.
The minister said his last rites will be performed as per international protocols. George said, “The District Collector will discuss with the boy's parents and family and only then will any decision be taken regarding the last rites.” The Health Minister said that currently three people are in isolation at the Kozhikode Medical College, where the boy was being treated.
“Four people in the high-risk category are admitted in Manjeri Medical College, of which one person is in the ICU,” the minister said. He said the test reports of the patients' samples will come today. The minister said the boy had gone to school on May 11, but so far no more cases of symptomatic patients have been reported. Earlier in the day, the minister had said a total of 246 people had come in contact with the boy, of which 63 are in the high-risk category.
“We will test all those in the high-risk category but first, those showing symptoms will be tested. There are laboratories in the state and a mobile laboratory from Pune NIV is coming to the state,” George said. The health department has also decided to conduct surveillance for fever cases in two panchayats, including Pandikkad, the epicentre of the epidemic, and will survey about 33,000 houses.
“The survey will be conducted jointly by officials of the Health Department, LSGD and Animal Husbandry Directorate,” the minister said. The state government will take care of the families living in isolation and volunteers have been deployed to buy food and medicines for them and help them. The child was shifted from a private hospital to the Kozhikode Medical College yesterday after Nipah infection was confirmed. The authorities have imposed restrictions on movement within a three-km radius of Pandikkad.
Disclaimer: Sarkari Result Daily has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.
