Tue Sep 17 11:02:04 UTC 2024: ## Nipah Virus Death Triggers Strict Containment Measures in Kerala’s Malappuram

**Malappuram, Kerala:** Following the death of a 24-year-old man due to Nipah virus infection on September 9, the Kerala government has imposed strict containment measures in parts of Malappuram district. Five wards in two panchayats have been declared containment zones, with directives issued to prevent large gatherings.

Shops in the affected areas are required to close by 7 pm, while cinema halls, schools, colleges, madrassas, anganwadis, and tuition centers will remain shut. Partial restrictions across the district include mandatory mask-wearing in public and limitations on attendee numbers at weddings, funerals, and other gatherings.

State Health Minister Veena George confirmed that 175 individuals, including 74 health workers, are on the deceased’s contact list. Of these, 126 are classified as primary contacts, with 104 considered high-risk. Currently, ten people are undergoing treatment at Manjeri Medical College Hospital, and 13 samples have been sent for testing.

The health department has deployed 66 teams to conduct fever surveys within a three-kilometer radius of the deceased’s residence. This is the second Nipah-related death in Malappuram this year, following a boy’s death in July. Kerala has previously experienced Nipah virus outbreaks in Kozhikode (2018, 2021, 2023) and Ernakulam (2019).

**Note:** The information regarding the USS `New Jersey’ and gender inclusion is unrelated to the Nipah virus outbreak and has been removed from the news article.

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