Nipah scare resurfaces in Kerala two months after the previous case
Nipah virus returns in Kerala, sparking fresh fear in the State. An 18-year-old girl who succumbed to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in Kozhikode two days ago and a 38-year-old woman currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital at Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district have tested positive for the Nipah virus.
The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, on Friday (July 4, 2025) confirmed Nipah infection in the 38-year-old woman. The final result of the deceased girl is awaited.
The Nipah scare resurfaces in Kerala two months after the previous case. A 42-year-old woman from Valanchery in Malappuram district tested positive and was admitted to a private hospital at Perinthalmanna in the first week of May. Although she survived the deadly virus, she is still recovering.
In the latest Nipah outbreak, the 18-year-old girl from Mankada in Malappuram was initially treated at a private hospital for encephalitis symptoms before being shifted to another private hospital in Kozhikode, where she died on July 1. Following her death, a postmortem examination was conducted at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode.
Doctors, staff quarantined
Following the girl’s positive test for Nipah virus, the doctors and healthcare personnel who treated her as well as those who conducted her post-mortem examination have been quarantined.
The 38-year-old woman currently under treatment at Perinthalmanna hails from Thachanattukara in the bordering Palakkad district. District Medical Officer (DMO) R. Renuka said that she was in critical condition with ventilator support.
The woman, a mother of three, had initially sought treatment at two hospitals at Karinkallathani and Mannarkkad for high fever and related issues before being admitted to the Perinthalmanna hospital on July 1 with AES symptoms.
High alert
Health authorities in Malappuram, Palakkad and Kozhikode districts are on high alert following the confirmation of Nipah in the initial tests. They have begun tracing the contacts of the virus-infected persons and started implementing quarantine and surveillance measures.
Health Minister Veena George said that Nipah protocols were implemented in the State even before receiving final confirmation from NIV, Pune. As part of the protocol, 26 committees were formed across Malappuram, Kozhikode and Palakkad districts to coordinate measures and prevent the spread of the virus.
She said the help of the police was also sought to trace the contacts. There will be helplines at State and district levels and containment zones at the district level.
District Collectors of Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode will follow up the measures to be adopted to prevent the spread of the virus, she said. There will be public announcements in affected areas. All unnatural deaths in the last one week will be monitored, she added.
The Minister is set to hold a meeting of high-level health officials on Friday afternoon.
Published – July 04, 2025 12:16 pm IST
