Nipah virus resurfaces in Kerala; district collectors told to maintain high vigil

Health authorities in Kerala have issued a caution across three districts—Malappuram, Kozhikode and Palakkad—after the confirmation of fresh Nipah virus cases. A high-level meeting chaired by State Health Minister Veena George was held on Saturday morning to assess the situation. District collectors have been instructed to maintain strict vigil, particularly in containment zones.

According to reports, the two recently confirmed Nipah cases are not epidemiologically linked and are considered independent index cases. Both patients reportedly showed no severe illness prior to diagnosis. This suggest the number of primary contacts linked to the confirmed cases may increase. An updated contact list is expected after a follow-up high-level meeting scheduled for the evening.

The state government issued a health alert on Friday after an 18-year-old girl who died in Malappuram district on July 1 tested positive for Nipah. Two additional cases have since been confirmed.

So far, 345 individuals have been identified and placed under observation. These include 211 contacts from Malappuram, 91 from Palakkad, and 43 from Kozhikode.

High mortality and diagnostic challenges

Since Kerala's first recorded Nipah outbreak in 2018, the state has witnessed five outbreaks. A total of 22 people have died, while only seven have survived. With a mortality rate ranging from 40 to 75 per cent, health professionals are concerned. The difficulty in early diagnosis arises due to Nipah's symptoms being similar to viral fever and influenza.