KOZHIKODE: Kerala‘s Malappuram district reported its second Nipah death Sunday within less than two months of the first after a test at Pune’s National Virology Institute confirmed that a Thiruvali native who died on Sept 9 was carrying the zoonotic virus.
The deceased, 24, was a student in Bengaluru and returned to his native village of Naduvath on Aug 23 after suffering a leg injury.
Five people with mild fever and other symptoms associated with Nipah infection have been quarantined, health minister Veena George said. She said an emergency meeting of the state healthcare administration was convened Saturday night after samples taken from the deceased were found positive. The minister said 151 people had been identified as the primary contacts of the deceased. Anyone who was in direct contact with him will remain in isolation till they are medically cleared.
Malappuram district medical officer Dr R Renuka said the youth had a bout of fever since Sept 4 .
His symptoms were initially suspected to be of encephalitis, a mosquito-borne infection.
The deceased had travelled to several places with friends in the days before taking ill, Renuka said.
Thiruvali panchayat authorities said face masks had been made mandatory in the area and door-to-door surveys would be conducted Monday onwards.
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