First death in Kerala due to Nipah virus! Health Minister himself confirmed; Know the latest situation

14-year-old boy infected with Nipah virus dies.

Nipah Virus, Kerala has recorded its first death in the fifth Nipah virus outbreak. A 14-year-old boy who was confirmed to have Nipah infection died. The boy died due to cardiac arrest while on ventilator support. The cremation will be done as per protocol. The child’s father and uncle are at Kozhikode Medical College.

One death in Kerala due to Nipah virus

Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Sunday confirmed the death of a 14-year-old teenager from Malappuram district due to Nipah infection. Earlier, she had informed about the boy’s infection on Saturday. Currently, 3 people are in isolation at Kozhikode Medical College in Kerala. Four people in the high-risk category are at Manjeri Medical College. One of these people is admitted in the ICU.

Death occurred the day after the infection was confirmed

George had told the media on Saturday that the Pune-based National Institute of Virology had confirmed the infection in the teenager, who is currently being treated at a private hospital. However, the boy’s death was confirmed the very next day.

Earlier, George had said, ‘The victim will be shifted to the Government Medical College in Kozhikode. The process of tracing the people who came in contact with the victim has been started. People who are at high risk due to his contact have already been isolated and their samples have been sent for testing.’ George had also said that the victim boy is being treated and is on life support system (ventilator).

Nipah has repeatedly increased the problems of Kerala

The state government had recently announced that a special action plan is being prepared to prevent the outbreak of Nipah, which has troubled the state on four occasions in the past. Cases of Nipah infection were reported in Kozhikode district in the years 2018, 2021 and 2023 and in Ernakulam district in 2019. The presence of antibodies to the Nipah virus was detected in bats from Kozhikode, Wayanad, Idukki, Malappuram and Ernakulam districts.