The Nipah virus outbreak in the Kozhikode region of Kerala has prompted a temporary closure of all educational institutions, comprising schools, colleges, and tuition centres.
Furthermore, the state government has made the decision to halt the operations of Beypore Harbour until further notice, given its location within a designated containment zone.
The Kerala state government has successfully identified the individual who served as the index case, or patient zero, for the ongoing Nipah virus outbreak.
In a proactive effort to trace the source and location of infection, the government is meticulously monitoring mobile tower locations. Regrettably, the initial patient succumbed to the virus on August 30. Presently, his son, brother-in-law, and two others who had contact with him at the hospital are undergoing treatment.
As of now, Health Minister Veena George has conveyed that no new positive cases have been reported. Encouragingly, 94 high-risk contacts have tested negative, offering a sigh of relief. Simultaneously, the government is diligently focusing on contact tracing for a sixth confirmed Nipah virus case.
The diligent response to the situation continues, with Kozhikode City Mayor Beena Philip designating all areas visited by the index case as containment zones.
In addition, Kozhikode District Collector A Geetha has orchestrated the transition of educational institutions to online classes for the forthcoming week. Furthermore, students have been advised to refrain from engaging in holiday-related festivities.
Regarding Beypore Harbour, Geetha has announced its temporary closure until further directives are issued. In the interim, two alternative sites have been designated for the landing and sale of catch from fishing vessels while the harbour remains inactive.
It is noteworthy that Health Minister Veena George has disclosed that out of the 1,080 individuals on the contact list of infected persons, 327 are health workers, including 29 individuals located in other districts who had contact with those infected.
Nevertheless, George has emphasized that all presently afflicted individuals are part of the initial wave of infections, which have been categorized into two clusters. The first cluster encompasses family members of the index case, while the second involves individuals who had contact with him during his hospitalization.
