Nipah virus: The samples of eight people who came in contact with a 12-year-old boy who died of Nipah virus infection in Kerala have returned negative, state Health Minister Veena George said.
The samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.
"It's a moment of relief that the results of those who were in close contact with the child came out negative," the minister said.
However, George added that despite the negative results, the health department will continue contact tracing.
Five more samples are being tested in the facility arranged at Kozhikode Medical College by Pune NIV, the minister added.
The state health department had identified the above mentioned 13 close contacts.
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George also said there are currently 48 people in the high-risk category who are at a medical college isolation ward and their health condition is "stable".
A central government team from the National Centre for Disease Control is in Kerala, providing technical support to the state.