Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Health Minister Veena George confirmed another case of Nipah Virus on Wednesday, taking the total number of infected in the state to five.
A 24-year-old health worker was diagnosed with the virus at a private hospital in Kozhikode, Health Minister Veena George said. Currently 706 people are in contact list. Out of which 77 are high-risk and 153 workers are healthy. Those in the high-risk category are currently showing no symptoms
At present 13 people are under hospital observation and are showing minor symptoms like headache. The government has advised those in the high-risk category to stay indoors. Government of Kerala has constituted 19 core committees to coordinate all measures in this regard. Local volunteer teams have been formed to deliver essential items to those in isolation.
This brain-damaging virus has claimed two lives in Kerala. Veena George said that the state administration is focusing on early detection of contacts of infected persons and isolation of those with symptoms. Also, seven gram panchayats of Koikode district namely Athancheri, Marutonkara, Thiruvallur, Kuttiyadi, Kayakkodi, Villyapalli and Kavilumpara have been declared as containment zones.
Education Minister V. Sivankutty has directed the Director of Public Education to organize online classes for students of all containment zone schools to attend classes from home.