Suspected Nipah virus outbreak, Minister convenes high level meeting

A 14-year-old boy admitted to a private hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala, with symptoms resembling encephalitis has tested negative for Nipah virus, according to confirmation from the National Institute of Virology, Pune. The boy, originally from Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district, is suspected to have tick fever, as reported by local news.

The boy's condition is stable, and his family members currently do not exhibit any symptoms. Initially hospitalized in Malappuram, he was transferred to Kozhikode on Friday evening.

Kerala's Health Minister Veena George chaired a high-level meeting in Malappuram to discuss measures for Nipah virus control, including standard protocols, hygiene practices, and testing procedures at the Pune lab. Emphasis was placed on preserving bat habitats, avoiding certain fruits, educating children, and maintaining thorough hand hygiene based on WHO outbreak data from 2018.