A colony of Indian fruit bats. Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus and the World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogen that causes near-annual outbreaks in Bangladesh and India. Discrete multiannual local epizootics in bat populations contribute to the sporadic nature of NiV outbreaks in South Asia.
| Photo Credit: VELANKANNI RAJ B
Health officials in Malappuram district heaved a sigh of relief on Wednesday when a 78-year-old woman from Parappanangadi who had been under treatment in quarantine after contact with a Nipah patient and later passed away tested negative for the virus posthumously. Her funeral had been put on hold awaiting the test results.
Health Minister Veena George said that 498 people in the State were on the Nipah contact list. She said prevention activities should continue until September as per the Nipah calendar.
When 203 people are under observation in Malappuram, 116 are under observation in Kozhikode, 177 in Palakkad, and two in Ernakulam. Eleven of them are under treatment in Malappuram, with two in intensive care units. As many as 46 persons on the contact list in Malappuram have tested negative for Nipah so far.
In Palakkad, three persons are being treated in isolation. Five tests in Palakkad have been negative so far. The Minister said that 29 persons in the State were in highest risk category and 116 in high risk category. The Nipah-infected woman is under treatment in Kozhikode.
Meanwhile, a Central team arrived in Kerala on Wednesday to visit the Nipah-affected areas in two northern districts and coordinate preventive efforts. The National Joint Outbreak Response Team, appointed by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, visited Malappuram district to study the Nipah situation, report it to the Centre, and assist the State in preventive measures, official sources said.
Besides Malappuram, another case of Nipah infection was reported from neighbouring Palakkad district.
Pranay Verma, Joint Director and Public Health Specialist at the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), is leading the 10-member expert team. The team also includes scientists from the ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, wildlife specialists, veterinary consultants, and experts from the Animal Welfare department. They met District Medical Officer (DMO) R Renuka and held discussions.
Another National Institute of Virology (NIV) team of eight members led by E Dilip Patil will soon arrive in the district to monitor and survey bats. This team is currently based in Palakkad.
Published – July 09, 2025 10:56 pm IST
