The minister also said that the nine-year-old boy who had been in critical condition was now out of ventilator support.
Nipah virus.
In a relief to the Kerala government, the state reported zero Nipah cases in Kozhikode on Sunday, 17 September, with test results of 42 samples — of persons in the high-risk contact list — coming out negative.
The results were announced by the state’s Health Minister Veena George while she wasspeaking to reporters on Sunday morning.
She said the test results of more samples were awaited and might become available during the day.
Adding that 1,233 people were being monitored, she said the nine-year-old boy who had been in critical condition was now out of ventilator support.
Asked how long vigilance and caution needed to be exercised since no new positive cases were being reported, the minister said according to the guidelines and protocols it was 42 days from the last positive case.
The incubation period of the virus is 21 days. Therefore, “a double incubation period of 42 days from the last positive case” would be considered the period during which caution had to be exercised, said George.
The police’s help would be sought to complete contact tracing as many persons who may have been in the area visited by those infected might deny having been there when contacted over the phone.
“So, we will seek police help to get their mobile tower locations. It is only being done to plug the gaps in the contact tracing,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Central team would be surveying the area of the 2018 Nipah outbreak and would look for any ecological changes there, the minister said.
Besides that, teams from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) were also carrying out field surveys in the district.
“Genomic sequencing of the virus is also being carried out. A bat survey is also going on. Bat survey was carried out last year and earlier this year too,” George noted.
A Central bat surveillance team was also in Kozhikode, collecting samples of the mammals.
In the wake of the outbreak, the state government launched an OPD service under its e-Sanjeevini telemedicine system.
The launch of the special outpatient department (OPD) service in connection with the Nipah virus outbreak was highlighted by Kozhikode District Collector (DC) A Geetha.
In a Facebook post, the DC said the new service would help address doubts related to Nipah and those showing symptoms of infection can seek medical assistance without having to go to a doctor.
Geetha said that the e-Sanjeevani Nipah OPD service will be available from 8 am to 5 pm.
The e-Sanjeevani platform is a system where you can seek treatment from the comfort of your home without visiting the hospital.
Apart from the regular OP, the services of specialist doctors are also assured every day, the DC’s post said.
The collector, in another post, said that while caution has to be exercised, there was no need to fear bats or attack them.
She cited reports of attacks on bats in the district as they are the cause of the Nipah outbreak.
In her post, Geetha advised people against frightening bats by throwing stones at them or making loud noises by bursting firecrackers, setting fire to their roots and cutting down trees they inhabit.
The DC said that when the bats infected with Nipah were harmed, frightened or moved from their habitat, the level of the virus in their body increased due to stress.
As a result, the viruses would be expelled through the body fluids and this would increase the risk of spread of the infection, she said.
Bats are mammals that make a definite contribution to our tropical habitats and are critical
to pest control, plant pollination and seed dispersal, the DC said.
She requested everyone to understand the seriousness of the situation and act responsibly, saying that people needed to get used to living cautiously alongside bats without fearing them.
At present, six cases of Nipah infection have been confirmed in the state. Of the six, two persons have died bringing the number of active cases to four.
The World Health Organisation and ICMR studies have found that the entire state, not just Kozhikode, is prone to such infections.
(With PTI inputs)
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![[Left] File photo of BJP MLA Harish Poonja, who has been booked, and [right] Poonja sitting for a protest in front of Belthangady Police Station in the early hours of Sunday, 19 May, 2024.](https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media.thesouthfirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Harish-Poonja-and-Belthangady.jpg "Harish Poonja and Belthangady")
