Kerala is once again on high alert after a 38-year-old woman from Nattukkal in Palakkad district tested positive for the deadly Nipah virus. The patient, currently being treated at a private hospital in Perinthalmanna, Malappuram, had her samples sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, which confirmed the infection.
Local authorities swiftly responded, with Ward 8 and nearby areas within a 3-kilometre radius declared containment zones. Surveillance has been tightened, and health officials are mapping the patient’s recent travel history and potential contacts. At least 100 people are currently classified as high-risk contacts.
A suspected Nipah case from Malappuram is also under observation, with test results awaited. State Health Minister Veena George confirmed that preventive protocols had already been activated in Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Palakkad even before confirmation, including the formation of 26 dedicated teams per district for contact tracing, symptom monitoring, and public communication.
Nipah virus, transmitted from fruit bats and animals like pigs, causes severe encephalitis-like symptoms including fever, vomiting, and confusion, and has a fatality rate ranging from 40% to 75%. With no vaccine or specific cure available, Kerala’s recurring outbreaks—first seen in 2018—have become a serious public health challenge.
The World Health Organisation has flagged Nipah as a high-risk pathogen due to its epidemic potential.