Kozhikode: Even as Kerala remains on high alert over Nipah infection, health authorities have confirmed that no fresh cases have been detected so far, offering cautious relief amid intensified containment efforts.
The lone confirmed Nipah patient continues to be in critical condition and is currently on ventilator support, Health Minister K Muraleedharan said on Sunday. The update comes as the state expands surveillance, monitors contacts and deploys specialised treatment protocols to prevent any further spread of the deadly virus.
According to the minister, the patient has been receiving antiviral drug Ribavirin since being shifted to Kozhikode Medical College on June 10. As part of the treatment regimen, the first dose of monoclonal antibody therapy was administered on June 12.
The Health Department also managed to procure Remdesivir from Bahrain after the medicine was reportedly unavailable in domestic stock. The emergency arrangement was facilitated through the intervention of Additional Chief Secretary Renu, and the patient received the first dose on Sunday.
11 symptomatic contacts test negative
Health officials said there is currently no evidence of community transmission linked to the case. Tests conducted on 11 people who developed symptoms while under observation have all returned negative.
So far, 30 samples have been tested, out of which 29 are negative. The only positive sample remains that of the patient.
Authorities are monitoring 100 people identified through contact tracing. Of them, 4 have been categorised as high-risk contacts and 82 as low-risk. The contact list also includes 44 healthcare workers who had exposure to the patient.
As part of field surveillance, officials screened residents in the affected area of Ramanattukara Municipality. A door-to-door survey covering 320 households and 1,047 residents found no one exhibiting Nipah-related symptoms.
Local self-government institutions have been tasked with ensuring that people under observation receive food and essential supplies at home, reducing the need for movement during the monitoring period.
Shigella cases cross 130 in Kerala
Alongside the Nipah response, the Health Department flagged concerns over the rise in Shigella infections across the state.
From January this year, Kerala has reported 135 confirmed Shigella cases and 3 deaths. Two of the deaths were recorded in Kozhikode district.
At present, 4 children are undergoing treatment in intensive care units, with the condition of 2 reported to be serious.
Kozhikode has reported the highest number of Shigella infections at 68 cases, followed by Wayanad (16), Thiruvananthapuram (14), Malappuram (13), Kollam (6), Alappuzha (6), Thrissur (4), Idukki (3), Ernakulam (2), Kannur (2) and Kottayam (1).
To contain the outbreak, the government has been running the 'Stop Diarrhoea' campaign since the beginning of June. District authorities have been instructed to intensify chlorination of water sources, inspect wells in educational institutions and tighten food safety checks at hotels and eateries.
The Health Department has also reiterated the importance of personal hygiene, urging people to wash their hands with soap before meals and after using toilets to reduce the risk of infection.
Responding to criticism over not visiting Kozhikode in person, Muraleedharan said the absence of wider Nipah transmission and the need for inter-departmental coordination made Thiruvananthapuram a more effective base for overseeing response measures.
He also defended the government's decision to replace the Director of Health Services, stating that the change became necessary because of a lack of complete cooperation with the administration during a critical period.