Amid renewed concerns over the Nipah virus, Kerala’s health minister convened a high-level meeting following reports of two “unnatural deaths” in Kozhikode. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed the Nipah virus as the cause of these deaths and dispatched a team of experts to assist the state government.

Samples from one of the deceased and four relatives were sent for testing at the National Institute of Virology in Pune, further confirming the virus’s presence.

In response to the situation, a district-wide health alert was issued, and Kerala established a control room in Kozhikode. Precautionary measures include the formation of 16 committees to coordinate efforts, with hospitals and health workers instructed to follow strict infection control protocols, including the use of PPE kits. The public has been advised to wear masks and limit unnecessary hospital visits.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reassured the public, emphasizing that those in close contact with the deceased were already under treatment, and there was no need for undue alarm. He called for cooperation with the health department’s action plan.

The first Nipah virus outbreak in South India occurred in Kozhikode on May 19, 2018.

About Nipah Virus:

Nipah virus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is a zoonotic illness transmitted to humans from animals and can also spread through contaminated food or person-to-person contact. It leads to a range of illnesses in infected individuals, from asymptomatic infection to severe respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also inflict significant economic losses on farmers by causing severe disease in animals like pigs.

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