Kerala health machinery in combat mode after 14-year-old dies of Nipah

KOZHIKODE: The 14-year-old boy from Chembrasseri near Pandikkad in Malappuram, who tested positive for Nipah infection on Saturday, died at Kozhikode govt medical college hospital on Sunday morning, even as the state govt intensified contact-tracing and preventive measures in Pandikkad and Anakkayam panchayats.
Health minister Veena George, who is camping in Malappuram to oversee the preventive measures, said the boy who was on ventilator support and unconscious suffered a massive cardiac arrest at 10.50am and the death was confirmed at 11.30am.
This is the fifth time that Ni pah infection is being reported in Kerala since 2018. She said 330 contacts of the boy had been identified so far and 68 of them are health workers. As many as 101 of his contacts have been classified as high risk, of whom six are under observation at Manjeri govt medical college and one has been admitted to Kozhikode govt medical college.
Veena said seven samples tested on Sunday — including those of six high-risk contacts —tested negative. Of them, six were the boy’s friends who had direct contact with him while the remaining person, a 68-year-old man, had no epidemiological link but came from near the boy’s locality and had fever and other symptoms. “It is a matter of relief that the seven samples tested negative... We will continue testing the boy’s high-risk contacts and will also closely check the contact list once again to ensure that no one is left out from it,” she said, adding that no person from the boy’s family had symptoms of Nipah.
The samples of all high-risk contacts would be tested, with priority to those showing symptoms. Also, health authorities would release a more detailed route map of the boy and ask people to contact the control room if they had any contact with him.
Health authorities examined CCTV footage from hospitals where the boy sought treatment and sought the help of police for contact tracing. The mobile laboratory of National Institute of Virology, Pune will reach Kozhikode on Tuesday and it will help speed up testing, the minister said. The boy’s funeral was held at the burial grounds of Odombett Old Juma Masjid on Sunday night as per Nipah protocols. His body was taken from Kozhikode govt medical college to his hometown as per the wishes of his parents who are under isolation.
The boy had tested positive for Nipah on Saturday in tests conducted at the Pune Virology Institute. He developed a fever on July 10, sought treatment at a private clinic on July 12 and consultation at a private hospital in Pandikkad on July 13. He was admitted to the same private hospital on July 15, but later transferred to a private hospital in Perinthalmanna and subsequently to a private hospital in Kozhikode on Friday. He was shifted to Kozhikode govt medical college hospital on Saturday.
As part of preventive measures, the health department has begun an elaborate house fever surveillance. As many as 307 houses were covered on Sunday and 18 fever cases were reported, but none of them had any contact with the boy. None of the 10 fever cases reported in Anakkayam panchayat had any epidemiological link with the boy.
The minister said directions had been given to ensure that the Plus One seat allotment on Monday should be held as per Nipah protocol in the district and maintaining social distancing. In three higher secondary schools in Anakkayam and Pandikkad panchayat, students and parents have been asked to wear N-95 face masks and use hand sanitizers.
Meanwhile, a team from ICMR — including four scientists and two technical experts — will reach Kozhikode on Sunday night. Restrictions have been imposed in Pandikkad and Anakkayam panchayats and shops including hotels are allowed to operate only till 5pm.