Kozhikode (Kerala), Sept 5: Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Sunday confirmed the death of a 12-year-old boy due to Nipah virus.

The death of a 12-year-old boy has been confirmed due to Nipah virus. We have already started contact tracing, and assessing the situation. The team from NCDC is also coordinating with us, George said in Kozhikode.

We have identified 188 primary contacts. Of which, 20 persons are in high-risk category. They are being shifted to MCH, Kozhikode. We’ve formulated an action plan and are enforcing lockdown in 3 km around child’s house (infected with Nipah virus), she added.

Out of 20 persons who are in the high-risk category, two of them are suspected to be symptomatic. Both of them are healthcare workers from Government Medical College, Kozhikode & a private hospital.