The Kerala Health Minister, Veena George, reported that test results for 16 additional contacts of a 14-year-old boy who died from the Nipah virus have returned negative, with a total of 17 individuals testing negative. The boy, who succumbed to the virus on July 21, was undergoing treatment prior to his death. Currently, there are 472 individuals on the contact list, with 220 classified as high-risk, including healthcare workers. A fever survey has been conducted in over 26,000 households, and the government is providing mental support to those affected. The source of the infection is being investigated, with indications that it may have come from fruit contaminated by bats, and a bat surveillance team is dispatched for further sampling. Strict health protocols remain in place, and misinformation campaigns regarding the virus are being actively combated by authorities.