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Malappuram Nipah virus case: What Union Health Ministry asked Kerala to do to contain outbreak

A mobile BSL-3 laboratory for testing additional samples has arrived at Kozhikode

Web Desk Updated: July 21, 2024 23:53 IST
A patient, who according to medics is suffering from Nipah infection, is shifted to an ICU of Nipah isolation ward in Kozhikode Medical College in Kozhikode | Reuters

The Central government decided to support Kerala's efforts in containing the Nipah virus outbreak by deploying a multi-member joint outbreak response team from the National ‘One Health Mission’ of the Union health ministry. The team will prirotise identifying epidemiological linkages, and providing technical assistance to the state health department, reports said.

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The development comes after a 14-year-old boy from Malappuram district's Pandikkad, who was the first Nipah case of this year, was declared dead while undergoing treatment on Sunday morning. Kerala health minister Veena George said he suffered a massive cardiac arrest at 10.50 am on Sunday and efforts to revive him failed at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.  "He was on ventilator support. The urine output had reduced this morning. After a massive cardiac arrest, the revival efforts failed and he passed away," Veena George said. 

Later, residents of Malappuram's Pandikkad and Aanakkayam panchayats were asked to not leave their homes unless necessary as the secondary contact list of the 14-year-old Nipah victim is being made. It is in this backdrop that the Union Health Ministry decided to play its part in containing the deadly viral outbreak.

  • A mobile Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory for testing additional samples from contacts has arrived in Kozhikode, the Hindustan Times said in a report.
  • The Union Health Ministry's advisory asked Kerala to strictly isolate people with viral symptoms while quarantining all contacts of the late patient without fail. Moreover, the state government was asked to trace his contacts over the past 12 days to identify all potential chances of the viral spread.

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  • The family of the late patient and neighbourhood should be tracked, the Health Ministry had said. Areas with similar topography should be checked to identify any additional cases, the HT report said the advisory as saying.

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