Kochi: Four patients who were suspected of having contracted the Nipah virus and were under observation in the isolation ward at Ernakulam Government Medical College at Kalamassery, Kerala were discharged on Saturday. In a big relief to the state, two more suspected cases of Nipah virus turned out to be negative on Saturday. Following this, 10 persons who were suspected of having contracted the infection have also tested negative for the deadly virus.

On June 4, Pune’s National Institute of Virology had confirmed that the Kerala youth, who was admitted to a private hospital in Ernakulam with high fever for 10 days, had contracted Nipah virus.

The Health Department has so far identified 325 people who came into contact with the Nipah virus-affected person who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi. His condition seems to be improving, reports indicate.

A year ago, Nipah virus had claimed 18 lives in Kozhikode.

Isolation wards have also been arranged at three government medical colleges; Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode.

Training on preventive measures to avoid contracting the virus was imparted to 1,293 persons on Saturday. The Labour Department inspected 12 migrant labour camps at North Paravur, Perumbavur, and Kakkanad areas to ensure hygiene standards were met. Strict action will be taken against those found violating hygiene norms, a Health Department official said.

Accordingly, training which was imparted at the block level as part of Nipah vigil will cover grama panchayats and municipalities.  The workers of Asha, Anganwadi, Kudumbasree and NREGP will receive training from June 10.  

According to the medical bulletin, the control room helpline set up by the district administration on Saturday received 39 calls of suspected Nipah cases, thereby bringing the total number of calls received to 557.