Kochi: In light of the ongoing Nipah virus outbreak in Kozhikode district, the Kerala High Court has urged the state government to consider issuing comprehensive guidelines for the forthcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage. The court's decision came on Friday, as concerns over the safety of pilgrims have escalated due to the resurgence of the Nipah virus in the region.

The court has directed the Travancore Devaswom Board commissioner to engage in deliberations with the health secretary, ultimately arriving at a prudent decision regarding the pilgrimage's operation and safety protocols.

The Sabarimala hilltop shrine, nestled in Pathanamthitta district, traditionally opens its doors for devotees for a duration of five days every Malayalam month. This month, the sacred site is scheduled to be accessible to pilgrims starting Sunday.

Concurrently, the state government has apprised the court that stringent restrictions have already been implemented in the northern reaches of Kozhikode district in a bid to contain the Nipah virus's spread.

The Nipah virus, which poses a grave public health threat, has registered a fresh case within Kozhikode on Friday, thereby increasing the total count of infected individuals to six in the state. Regrettably, Kerala has also mourned two fatalities as a result of this menacing virus.

The Kerala High Court's proactive stance seeks to safeguard the well-being of Sabarimala devotees, signaling the state government's dedication to addressing the Nipah outbreak with a heightened sense of responsibility and urgency.

Nipah Virus Update Today, September 17: A resident of Cheruvannur, who recently tested positive for Nipah virus, had direct contact with the initial case while at a private hospital, where he was present as an observer. Following the onset of symptoms, he was placed under observation at Kozhikode MCH. Fortunately, his health remains stable at this time. This latest case brings the total number of Nipah-positive individuals to six, including the unfortunate two who have already passed away.

On a more positive note, samples from 30 individuals, including 15 healthcare professionals from the aforementioned private hospital, have returned negative results following testing on Friday.

Furthermore, contact tracing efforts have led to the identification of 29 individuals from various districts who had close contact with the index case. Among them, 22 are from Malappuram, three from Kannur, three from Thrissur, and one from Wayanad. All of these contacts will undergo testing as a precautionary measure.

The total count of individuals in the contact list of Nipah-positive cases has now reached 1,080, with an additional 130 contacts being traced on Friday alone. Among these, 297 individuals are classified as high-risk contacts, and notably, this group includes 122 healthcare workers.

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