Kozhikode: In response to the death of a 23-year-old student from Malappuram due to Nipah virus infection, district authorities have enforced strict health protocols, including mandatory mask-wearing across the region starting Monday. The deceased, a native of Chembaram near Naduvath in Wandoor, passed away at a private hospital in Perinthalmanna last Monday after exhibiting symptoms of the virus.
Health officials are currently preparing a detailed route map of the deceased’s movements and compiling a contact list to ensure all necessary precautions are followed. The initial positive test for Nipah was conducted at Kozhikode Medical College, with further confirmation coming from the Pune virology lab, according to Health Minister Veena George.
The local administration has taken swift action, imposing strict measures in and around the Thiruvali panchayat, including four wards and an additional ward from neighboring Mampad panchayat. Public gatherings have been restricted, and local theaters and educational institutions in the affected wards have been ordered to close until further notice. Any public events that do occur must adhere to the established Nipah safety protocols.
The young victim, a student in Bengaluru, had recently returned home with a leg injury and subsequently developed a fever. After visiting two local clinics with no improvement, he was admitted to the hospital where he eventually succumbed to the virus.
This is the latest Nipah-related fatality in the state, with a 14-year-old boy from Malappuram having also died from the virus earlier in July 2024. The Nipah virus, transmitted by fruit bats, first caused fatalities in South India in 2018, claiming 18 lives during that outbreak. The region remains on high alert as authorities work to contain the current situation.
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