Kerala has confirmed a fresh Nipah virus fatality after an 18-year-old girl from Mankada, Malappuram, succumbed to the infection in Kozhikode. The teenager, initially admitted to a private hospital in Kottakkal, was moved to Meitra Hospital, Kozhikode on June 28 and declared brain dead on July 1.
Lab tests conducted at the Virology Lab of Kozhikode Medical College confirmed Nipah infection. Her samples have also been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for additional confirmation. A postmortem was carried out at the same medical college, and the forensic expert involved has been placed under quarantine as a precaution.
In a worrying development, a 38-year-old woman from Nattukal in Palakkad, currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Perinthalmanna, has also tested positive for Nipah. Her samples too have been sent to NIV Pune for reconfirmation.
Health officials have ramped up surveillance and contact tracing in all affected regions. The public has been strongly urged to follow safety protocols and remain alert to any symptoms.
The Nipah virus has claimed 25 lives in Kerala so far. It was first detected in Perambra in May 2018. Since then, sporadic outbreaks have occurred: in Kochi (2019), Chathamangalam (2021), and Kuttiyadi (2023), sparking waves of concern across the state.