Two Deaths Due to Nipah Virus in Kerala – Containment Zones Declared
Two fatalities resulting from the Nipah virus in Kerala have raised alarm, leading authorities to designate multiple wards in seven panchayats as containment zones. The Kerala government, seeking to reassure the public, confirmed two Nipah virus-related deaths in Kozhikode district. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan shared on his Facebook page, “Nipah virus infection has been confirmed in Kozhikode district. Two people died due to infections. Of the four people whose saliva was sent for testing, two were Nipah positive and two were Nipah negative.”
Wards Designated as Nipah Containment Zones
The health department has identified the following wards as Nipah containment zones:
| Panchayat | Wards |
|---|---|
| Ayanchery | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 15 |
| Maruthonkara | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14 |
| Thiruvallur | 1, 2, 20 |
| Kuttiadi | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
| Kayakkodi | 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| Villiappally | 6, 7 |
| Kavilumpara | 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 |
Restrictions in Containment Zones
Residents within the containment zones will face strict restrictions:
- No one will be allowed to leave the containment zones.
- Entry into these zones will be prohibited for outsiders.
Additional restrictions include:
- Shops selling essential commodities like food may open from 7 am to 5 pm.
- No time restrictions apply to medical shops and other health centers.
- Offices, banks, schools, and anganwadis within these containment zones shall not operate.
- Social distancing, mask-wearing, and the use of sanitizers are mandated within these areas.
CM’s Appeal for Calm
Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, has called upon the public not to panic but to take precautionary measures. He stated, “Everyone should strictly follow the instructions of the health department and the police and fully cooperate with the restrictions.”
Health Minister Veena George, speaking to reporters in Kozhikode after receiving confirmation from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, shared that one of the individuals infected with the virus is a nine-year-old boy. George revealed that out of the five samples tested, three returned positive results.
She explained, “The samples of the person who died yesterday and two others under treatment, including the nine-year-old boy, have tested positive.” The sample of the person who died yesterday also tested positive. The minister added that two epicenters of the disease have been identified, which will soon be declared as containment zones by the district collector after following due procedure. The individual who died on August 30 was 44 years old, while the person who died yesterday was a 40-year-old man.