Mallapuram: A case of Nipah virus has been confirmed in Mallapuram district, Kerala, following the death of a 14-year-old boy who exhibited acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) symptoms. The boy was initially admitted to a healthcare facility in Perinthalmanna and later transferred to a higher health center in Kozhikode, where he succumbed to the disease. Samples sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, confirmed the Nipah virus infection.
In response, the Centre has advised the Kerala state government to implement immediate public health measures, including:
- Active case search within the family of the confirmed case, the neighborhood, and areas with similar topography.
- Active contact tracing for any contacts in the past 12 days.
- Strict quarantine of contacts of the case and isolation of any suspects.
- Collection and transportation of samples for laboratory testing.
A multi-member joint outbreak response team from the National ‘One Health Mission’ of the Union Health Ministry will be deployed to support the state in investigating the case, identifying epidemiological linkages, and providing technical assistance.
Additionally, at the state’s request, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has sent monoclonal antibodies for patient management. A mobile BSL-3 laboratory for testing additional samples from contacts has also arrived in Kozhikode. Unfortunately, the monoclonal antibodies reached before the patient’s death but could not be used due to his poor general condition.
Kerala has previously reported outbreaks of Nipah Virus Disease (NiVD), with the most recent one occurring in 2023 in the Kozhikode district. The usual reservoir of the virus is fruit bats, and humans can become infected by consuming bat-contaminated fruits.
The Centre’s advisory and the swift response aim to contain the spread of the virus and ensure the safety and health of the public.