State to conduct detailed study into infection: CM

Kochi: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the government would conduct a detailed study to ascertain various factors, including the sources of origin, of Nipah infection using agencies like agriculture department, animal husbandry department and forest research institute.
Speaking to media after a high-level meeting to review Nipah management in Kochi on Thursday, Vijayan said the government would also request the Centre to carryout research in this regard.
Meanwhile, health minister K K Shailaja said she would be leaving for Delhi on Thursday night and has sought an appointment with Union health minister.
There are 316 persons under surveillance, and of these the details of 255 have already been collected. Authorities have scrutinized the data pertaining to 224. After the scrutiny, 33 persons, who had come in contact with the patient who was confirmed with Nipah , have been included in the high-risk group.
Meanwhile, ccording to experts, chances are high for getting the details regarding the origin of current outbreak of Nipah infection. Last year, health department failed to trace the origin as the first victim, from whom the disease had spread, died even before confirming that he was Nipah infected. This time, the patient is recovering and so collecting details from him was possible, experts said.
“In 2018, experts who tried to trace the origin of the disease couldn’t collect many vital details from the first patient. Some of the minute details like what the patient ate and what he did before he started showing the symptoms could be revealed only by the patient,” said Dr T S Anish, associate professor, Government Medical College, T’puram.