Malappuram: The test result of a 78-year-old woman, who was on the Nipah virus contact list and died on Wednesday, has returned negative, Health Minister Veena George confirmed.

The minister also said that a total of 498 people are currently on the Nipah contact list across the state. This includes 203 individuals from Malappuram, 177 from Palakkad, 116 from Kozhikode, and 2 from Ernakulam.

In Malappuram, 11 people are currently under treatment, with two patients in intensive care. So far, 46 samples have tested negative in the district. In Palakkad, three individuals are being treated in isolation, and the test results of five persons have returned negative, with two people discharged after recovery.

Statewide, 29 people are under the highest risk surveillance, and 116 individuals are under high-risk observation. The confirmed Nipah patient in Kozhikode is receiving treatment in the ICU.

The Minister has directed that preventive measures based on the Nipah calendar have to be strictly continued until the end of September. A team from ICMR-BATS, Pune, has reached Palakkad and collected samples. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) team has also arrived and held discussions.

A high-level meeting was convened under the leadership of the Health Minister to assess the Nipah situation. Attendees included the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, State Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Directors of Health and Medical Education, Additional Directors, District Collectors, District Medical Officers, senior police officials, and representatives from various departments.