Kozhikode: Nipah virus has been confirmed in Kozhikode district with the death of a 12-year-old boy on Sunday early morning.

Health minister Veena George, who addressed the media in Thrissur, said that the 3 samples collected from the child and sent for testing confirmed the Nipah infection. The serum, plasma and CSF tests turned positive for the Nipah infection.

The boy died of Nipah virus at a private hospital in Kozhikode. He was admitted 4 days back due to high fever. The child showed symptoms of vomiting and meningitis but the situation worsened by late night. 

The samples of the boy, which were sent to the Pune National Institute of Virology, confirmed the presence of Nipah virus.Giving details of the case, the minister told reporters, "Unfortunately, the boy passed away at 5 in the morning. The condition of the child was critical on Saturday night. We formed various teams and have started the tracing. Steps have been taken to isolate those who were the primary contacts of the boy".

The state government had held a high-level meeting of health officials late Saturday night following the information about the suspected Nipah infection.

The government will convene a high-level meeting in Kozhikode on Sunday to take stock of the situation. Health experts, doctors and other bureaucrats will participate in the meeting.

The child was admitted to a private hospital initially and then to Kozhikode Medical college and later to another multi-speciality hospital. The child had high temperature of 104-degree and was on ventilator support for 4 days.

The doctor who treated the child suspected the infection and sent the samples to Pune Virology laboratory for testing which confirmed the virus.

Health Minister Veena George told the media that all contacts of the infected child are being traced and strict vigil is being maintained in and around the area.

The family members, friends and other persons who have been in contact with the infected child have been kept under observation.

The government is preparing a list of persons who were in contact with the child. So far, the relatives of the child have not shown any serious symptoms and the immediate contacts have been placed under isolation.

The minister said that strict observation would be maintained in Kannur and Malappuram districts too.

The first Nipah virus disease (NiV) outbreak in South India was reported in the Kozhikode district of Kerala on May 19, 2018. The state had witnessed 17 deaths and 18 confirmed cases till June 1, 2018.