Kerala: Holiday For School, Colleges in Kozhikode Till Sep 16 Over Nipah Outbreak

In the wake of the Nipah outbreak in the north Kerala district, the Kerala government has extended holidays for schools and colleges in Kozhikode till September 16 (Saturday) to prevent the spread of the Nipah virus.

All schools, colleges including Anganwadis, Madrasas, and tuition centres including professional colleges will remain shut till September 16.

Earlier, the holiday was declared by Kozhikode District Collector A Geetha who in a Facebook post said educational institutions can arrange online classes on the two days for students.

However, there will be no change in the university exams schedule, she added.

A 24-year-old health worker became Kerala's fifth confirmed Nipah case on Wednesday since its recent outbreak.

Meanwhile, the ICMR's National Institute of Virology in Pune on Thursday sent its mobile BSL-3 laboratory to Kozhikode in Kerala to test samples for Nipah virus in the district itself after five cases, including two deaths, were reported there.

A team of experts from the Department of Animal Husbandry has also been deployed to assist the state in the surveillance of animals, official sources told PTI. Apparently, samples will be collected from bats to check for the presence of the Nipah virus.

The brain-damaging virus has killed two people and infected three others in Kozhikode district so far. On Wednesday, a 24-year-old health worker became Kerala's fifth confirmed Nipah case since its recent outbreak.