Kerala Health Minister Veena George announced that test results for 16 more contacts of a 14-year-old boy who died from Nipah virus returned negative, alleviating immediate concerns as 21 individuals are currently hospitalized. The total number of contacts has increased to 472, with 220 categorized as high-risk, prompting ongoing fever surveys in over 26,000 households. A mobile laboratory from the Pune Virology Institute is now operational to expedite testing and enhance disease monitoring. Despite the negative results, restrictions in the area remain, and health officials continue to enforce mask-wearing and vigilance. The state government is working on a special action plan for future outbreaks, emphasizing misinformation control and legal consequences for violators. Experts are also monitoring local bats as part of precautionary measures against Nipah transmission.