Nipah: 16 more samples test -ve, curbs lifted

Kozhikode: Malappuram district collector V R Vinod has issued an order lifting the restrictions imposed in areas declared as containment zones and in the district following the confirmation of Nipah death at Thiruvali panchayat in Malappuram.
Meanwhile, health minister Veena George said that 16 more persons have tested negative for Nipah. With this as many as 104 persons, who were in the contact list of the 24-year-old Nipah victim who had died at a private medical college on Sept 9, have tested negative.
The minister said that the quarantine period of 94 persons in the contact list, including four persons in the primary contact list and 90 in the secondary contact list, would end on Sept 25.
Meanwhile, one person was admitted with symptoms at the Manjeri Govt Medical College Hospital on Tuesday while 28 persons are under observation at the Perinthalmanna MES Medical College Hospital.
Those in the contact list are being provided with mental support. Mental support was given to 281 people, including two individuals, through the call centre on Tuesday.
Govt had put in place strict restrictions, including enforcement of containment zones in five wards spread across Thiruvali and Mampad panchayats, following the confirmation that the death of the youth was due to Nipah virus infection. Four wards of Thiruvali panchayat (wards 4, 5, 6 and 7) and ward 7 of Mampad panchayat were declared as containment zones and it was directed that schools, colleges, tuition centres, madrassas, anganwadis and cinema theatres would remain closed.