Thiruvananthapuram, July 18 -- A total of 648 people are currently on the Nipah virus contact list across several districts in Kerala, as per a statement from the office of State Health Minister Veena George.

Of the total, 421 are from Palakkad, 110 from Malappuram, 115 from Kozhikode, and one each from Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. This also includes 17 people who remain in isolation in Palakkad.

In Malappuram, 13 people are currently under isolation. The district has so far reported 97 sample tests, all of which have returned negative.

Notably, 21 people from Malappuram and 12 from Palakkad have completed their isolation period and have been removed from the contact list, the statement read.

Across the state, 30 people are under...