Health Department officials here are on high alert against Nipah virus infection even as tests have confirmed that the death of a woman from the district at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital on Saturday was not due to Nipah.
The woman from Thillankery in the district, identified as U. Roja, 39, had been admitted to the Pariyaram Medical College Hospital (PMCH) before she was shifted to the Kozhikode hospital. She had earlier been treated at a private hospital at Mattannur for fever.
Even though the Health officials heaved a sigh of relief after it was confirmed that the deceased had not been infected by Nipah virus, the district continues to remain on high alert. In view of the precautions, the district administration had decided to postpone the reopening of schools at Thalassery to June 5.
The district administration had already initiated measures to be taken by hospitals in the wake of the outbreak of Nipah virus infection in the neighbouring Kozhikode district. Isolated ward have been opened at the district hospital here and the General Hospital at Thalassery as also at the PMCH which has been named the referral centre for Nipah virus infection cases.