Kerala health minister convenes high-level meeting amid Nipah concerns
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Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Health Minister Veena George organized a high-level meeting on Saturday to place preventive measures against a potential Nipah virus outbreak in the state.
The meeting was called following reports of a suspected Nipah virus infection in northern Malappuram district. Local media indicated that a boy from Malappuram, currently receiving treatment in a private hospital in Kozhikode, exhibited symptoms of Nipah. His samples have been sent to a central laboratory for detailed examination.
According to a statement from the Health Minister's office, although the final test results are pending, precautionary steps following the Nipah protocol were initiated earlier in the day. The actions are being coordinated according to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlined in the government order concerning Nipah prevention.
The health minister will soon arrive in Malappuram to oversee the prevention activities. The meeting included key officials such as the health secretary, the National Health Mission state director, and the district collectors of Kozhikode and Malappuram, along with the health director.
The state government recently announced the preparation of a special action calendar to prevent Nipah outbreaks, a recurring threat in Kerala, with previous incidents in Kozhikode (2018, 2021, and 2023) and Ernakulam (2019). Nipah virus antibodies have been detected in bats across Kozhikode, Wayanad, Idukki, Malappuram, and Ernakulam districts.
input from PTI