Malappuram District Administration Releases Directives After A Nipah Case Confirmed

The Malappuram district administration has released the following directives after a Nipah positive case was confirmed in Pandikkad panchayat:

1. Avoid gatherings as much as possible.
2. Wear masks compulsorily in public, during journeys, and at gatherings.
3. Students and teachers must wear masks when attending school.
4. Practice social distancing and avoid crowds during weddings, funerals, and other similar occasions.
5. Consult a registered medical practitioner if experiencing symptoms of fever or similar illnesses.
6. Do not consume fruits or vegetables that have fallen from trees or been bitten by birds or bats. Eat fruits and vegetables only after properly washing them.
7. If experiencing fever and vomiting, consult a registered medical professional and contact 0483-2732010 or 0483-273205 if there is a risk of spreading.

The administration has also released special directives for Pandikkad and Anakkayam Panchayats:

1. No gatherings are allowed.
2. Shops are allowed to function from 10 am to 5 pm, except for medical shops.
3. Movie theatres will remain closed.
4. No media persons are allowed; the government’s PR department will provide necessary news and materials to the media.
5. Educational institutions, including Anganwadis and tuition centres, will remain closed.

Recently, a 14-year-old boy from Perinthalmanna was admitted to a private hospital, with the symptoms of the zoonotic virus Nipah. Upon analysing symptoms of the deadly disease, the doctors sent the boy’s samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for final confirmation.

Read Also: Nipah Virus: “All Four Patients Tested Double Negative”, Says Kerala Health Minister

The NIV, after testing his samples today, confirmed that the boy has tested positive for the Nipah virus. However, the patient’s condition is reported to be stable.

Nipah has been a nightmare to the people of Kerala since it first broke out in 2018, killing 17 people. Since then, the deadly virus has appeared again in subsequent years. A virus with a high mortality rate, nearly 75 percent of those infected is reported to be at risk of potential fatality.