MALAPPURAM: A 14-year-old boy died from Nipah infection on Sunday even as the state remained on alert with strict preventive measures against the deadly disease. The boy, a native of Chembrassery in Pandikkad, Malappuram, breathed his last at around 11.30 am on Sunday. Meanwhile, none of the boy’s relatives are experiencing any symptoms of the disease. All 7 samples that were tested yesterday returned negative.

There are 330 persons on the contact list of the 14-year-old boy. Among them, 101 are in the high-risk category. 68 people are health workers.

The boy who was unconscious on a ventilator, suffered a cardiac arrest at around 10.50 am. Following this, his blood pressure dropped. The death was confirmed at around 11.30 am. Although an anti-body medicine from Australia and preventive medicine from Pune were brought to the Medical College, the child died before the medicines were administered. The funeral took place at the Kabristan of the Odampata Juma Masjid in Pandikkad as per Nipah protocol.

At the same time, it is reassuring that the test results of the 68-year-old man shifted from Mancheri Medical College to Kozhikode Medical College’s ICU returned negative. The 68-year-old man lives within two kilometres of the boy’s house. He had not come in contact with the boy.

It is reported that the deceased boy and his friends had eaten hog plums from a tree near his house. The presence of bats has been confirmed in this area.

New route map
1. A new route map will be published as part of the preventive measures. Authorities are examining the CCTV footage of the hospitals where the child was admitted to find those who had come in contact with him. The Centre has directed the state to start tracing people who have come in contact with the patient in the last 12 days and implement strict quarantine for them, and isolation for suspects.

2. A survey was conducted in 307 houses in Pandikkad panchayat and 310 houses in Anakkayam panchayat. 18 people have fever in Pandikkad panchayat, while 10 people are suffering from fever in Anakkayam. However, none of them have come in contact with the boy. Six high-risk patients are undergoing treatment at Manjeri Medical College and one at Kozhikode Medical College. A survey will be conducted in all the houses in both panchayats.