Kozhikode, 14 June (H.S.):

Kerala health authorities received some relief in the state's latest Nipah outbreak after three close relatives of the infected patient tested negative for the virus. However, the condition of the 43-year-old man undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital continues to remain critical.

Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said the three relatives, who were admitted for observation on June 12 after being identified as close contacts, tested negative in laboratory examinations conducted at the Medical College. The patient remains in the intensive care unit and is on ventilator support.

According to the Health Department, a medical board will assess his condition after 48 hours and decide whether a second dose of monoclonal antibody treatment should be administered.

Meanwhile, authorities have stepped up surveillance and contact-tracing efforts to contain the outbreak. Four more individuals from the patient's contact list were admitted to the hospital for observation on Friday, while 13 additional people were newly added to the contact list. Officials said all of the newly identified contacts fall under the low-risk category.

With the latest additions, the total number of people under surveillance has increased to 100. Among them, four have been classified as very high-risk contacts, 14 as high-risk contacts and 82 as low-risk contacts.

Health workers have also expanded field surveillance in Ramanattukara, where the patient is believed to have contracted the infection. Surveys were conducted in 35 additional households, completing visits to all 320 houses in the affected municipal division.

An expert team from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) visited Kozhikode Medical College Hospital on Saturday and reviewed treatment protocols as well as containment measures. Officials said all 100 individuals on the contact list, including the newly identified contacts, have been contacted by the control room.

The control room received 30 calls from the public on Friday, taking the total number of calls received so far to 80. Under the District Mental Health Programme, psychological support was provided to 76 people on the contact list.

The situation was also reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar as authorities continued efforts to monitor contacts and prevent any further spread of the virus.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman