Four Contacts Show Symptoms of Nipah Virus as State Implements Lockdown and Survey Measures
A 14-year-old boy from Malappuram, Kerala, who tested positive for the Nipah virus, has died at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode. The boy, who developed a fever ten days ago, was initially admitted to a private hospital in Kozhikode and placed on ventilator support. After his Nipah infection was confirmed by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune on Saturday, he was transferred to the government hospital but suffered a cardiac arrest and was declared dead shortly thereafter.
Health Minister Veena George reported that despite all efforts, including administering monoclonal antibodies brought from NIV-Pune, the boy could not be saved. She also revealed that four individuals from the boy’s contact list have shown symptoms of Nipah, with one in critical condition and on life support. Test results for these individuals are awaited, and a mobile lab from NIV-Pune will be brought to Malappuram for further testing.
In response to the outbreak, the Kerala Health Department has established a control room in Malappuram and issued a district-wide alert. A lockdown has been implemented in specific areas, including Pandikkad and nearby Anakkayam panchayats, where the boy resided. Authorities are conducting a door-to-door survey and have published a route map of the victim to encourage people to self-report if they had contact with him.
The Centre has deployed a “One Health” outbreak response team to Kerala to investigate the case, identify epidemiological linkages, and provide technical support. The state has been advised to actively search for additional Nipah cases, enforce strict quarantine measures, and trace all contacts of the deceased boy from the past 12 days.
Nipah virus primarily affects animals like bats, pigs, and horses but can be transmitted to humans who come into contact with infected animals. It typically causes fever and severe brain swelling. Kerala has experienced several Nipah outbreaks since 2018, with a total of 21 deaths attributed to the virus in the state. The exact source of the current case remains undetermined, and it is not yet confirmed whether this is the first case of the year. Previous studies indicated that the virus in Kerala is of the Bangladeshi strain, known for its high mortality rate.
(With inputs from agency)
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