Kerala has sounded a fresh alert after an 18-year-old girl succumbed to symptoms resembling Nipah virus infection in Kozhikode district. The death has prompted authorities to initiate strict monitoring and precautionary measures across affected regions, including Malappuram and surrounding areas.
Though the health department has yet to officially confirm whether the girl’s death was caused by the Nipah virus, samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for testing. In the meantime, more than 345 people who came in contact with the deceased or are exhibiting symptoms have been placed under medical observation.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George stated that rapid response teams have been deployed and isolation wards have been set up in hospitals. She urged the public not to panic but to remain vigilant and report any flu-like symptoms or contact with bats or sick animals, which are known carriers of the virus.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals like bats and pigs to humans, and in some cases, through person-to-person contact. The virus has a high fatality rate and no known cure or vaccine, making early detection and isolation critical.
Kerala has battled multiple Nipah outbreaks in recent years, notably in 2018 and 2021. The state’s health infrastructure, while seasoned in handling such situations, remains on high alert due to the unpredictable nature of the virus’s transmission.
