Kerala is once again facing a serious health concern as the number of people exposed to the Nipah virus continues to rise. As per the latest update from Health Minister Veena George, 675 people are now on the Nipah contact list across the state.

Of these, 178 people are connected to the second Nipah case reported from the Palakkad district.

The health department shared the district-wise contact numbers:

  • 210 in Malappuram
  • 347 in Palakkad
  • 115 in Kozhikode
  • 2 in Ernakulam
  • 1 in Thrissur

·Earlier this week, a 50-year-old man from Mannarkkad in Palakkad died after having serious breathing problems. Later, tests confirmed that he was infected with the Nipah virus. This was the second death due to Nipah in Kerala this year. The first death had taken place in Malappuram.

·Right now, one person in Malappuram is being treated in the ICU, but 82 test samples from the district have come back negative. In Palakkad, 12 people are in isolation, while five people have already recovered and been discharged.

·Across the state, 38 people are under the highest-risk category, and 139 are in the high-risk group.

·Because of the rising danger, six districts—Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kannur, and Wayanad—have been put on high alert. Health officials are now actively tracing contacts, checking symptoms, and trying to control the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, wearing masks is now mandatory in Malappuram. Hospitals have been told to limit the number of bystanders and make sure staff, patients, and visitors all wear masks.

Health officials have also told hospitals in affected areas to report any cases of fever with Nipah-like symptoms or encephalitis immediately.

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