In response to the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala's Kozhikode district, local authorities have taken the decision to implement a week-long closure of all educational institutions until the forthcoming Sunday. This precautionary measure encompasses not only schools but also extends to professional colleges, tuition centers, and any other establishment involved in education within the district. To ensure that students' learning continues uninterrupted during this period, online classes will be conducted throughout the week.
The rationale behind tightening these restrictions becomes more evident in light of the confirmation of yet another case of Nipah virus infection on Friday. The positive test result came from a 39-year-old man, bringing the total number of reported cases to six.
Currently, the contact tracing efforts have identified a significant number of individuals in connection with confirmed Nipah patients, totaling 1080 individuals, with 130 new additions to this list today alone. Among these individuals, 327 are healthcare workers.
Categorized as high-risk, there are 175 members of the general public and 122 healthcare professionals. Health Minister Veena George has cautioned that the number of individuals on the contact list is expected to rise as further investigations progress.
The index case, which can be traced back to the individual who passed away on August 30th, has now tested positive for the virus, serving as the initial case in this outbreak. Health Minister Veena George has noted that, at this point, it can be surmised that the subsequent infections have occurred through contact with this index case.
As the current situation stands, there are a total of six confirmed cases and 83 cases that have tested negative for the virus.
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