Malappuram: Health Minister Veena George has confirmed that 112 individuals have been included in the contact list of the man who died of a suspected Nipah infection. The 57-year-old man from Palakkad died on July 12 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Malappuram. The National Institute of Virology is yet to confirm whether the cause of death was Nipah infection.

The Health Department has prepared a route map of the deceased using CCTV footage and other data.

“A containment zone has been declared, and field-level operations and fever surveillance have been intensified in the affected area. A team of health experts has visited the location and initiated further measures. Health teams are currently conducting fever surveillance in the region to detect any possible symptoms in others. Field teams have been strengthened, and all available data is being used to monitor the situation. Further steps will be taken once confirmation is received from the National Institute of Virology in Pune,” said the Health Minister.

She also instructed officials to strengthen the response team, considering the seriousness of the case.

Meanwhile, authorities have urged people in the Palakkad and Malappuram districts to avoid unnecessary hospital visits, especially under the current circumstances. Visits to friends or relatives receiving treatment should be strictly limited, officials said. Only one person is allowed to accompany a patient as an attendant. Both healthcare workers and those visiting hospitals—including patients and their companions—are required to wear masks at all times, an official release stated.

The Health Department confirmed that a total of 609 individuals are currently on the Nipah contact list. This includes 207 individuals from Malappuram, 286 from Palakkad, 114 from Kozhikode, and two from Ernakulam. Eight people in Malappuram are receiving ICU treatment. So far, 72 samples from Malappuram have tested negative. In Palakkad, five individuals are in hospital isolation. Statewide, 38 people are under highest-risk observation, while 133 are classified as high-risk.

 A high-level meeting was convened under the leadership of Minister Veena George. Senior officials, including the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, NHM State Mission Director, Director of the Health Department, Director of Medical Education, Additional Directors, District Collectors, District Medical Officers, police officials, and officers from various departments, were present at the meeting.