Kozhikode: In a major recovery milestone, a 43-year-old man from Feroke in Kozhikode who was critically ill with Nipah virus infection has been discharged from the Government Medical College Hospital after nearly two months of intensive treatment and rehabilitation.
The patient’s recovery was announced by Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan, who praised the medical team and healthcare workers involved in his treatment. The minister said the patient’s survival was the result of the collective efforts of doctors, nurses, support staff and other healthcare workers.
The man was admitted to the hospital’s isolation intensive care unit on June 11 in a critical condition after testing positive for Nipah. He required prolonged intensive care, including ventilator support, before his condition gradually improved.
Remarkable recovery after critical illness
Hospital authorities said the patient is now fully conscious, able to walk without assistance and free of fever. His memory and cognitive functions have also returned to normal.
Follow-up scans reportedly showed significant improvement in the neurological abnormalities caused by the infection, with doctors describing his recovery as remarkable given the severity of his condition when he was admitted.
The infection was confirmed on June 10 after samples were tested at laboratories in Kozhikode and subsequently at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) laboratory in Pune. He was then shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital for specialised treatment.
Medical team’s efforts praised
A special medical board was formed to monitor his treatment. The Health Minister also facilitated the procurement of Remdesivir from Bahrain to support his treatment.
The successful recovery comes as a significant boost to Kerala’s efforts to manage Nipah infections. Health authorities had maintained enhanced surveillance and strengthened preparedness following confirmation of the case in Kozhikode.
The patient’s discharge marks a hopeful outcome following weeks of critical care and highlights the importance of specialised treatment, coordinated medical response and sustained rehabilitation in severe infectious disease cases.