Kerala health authorities have intensified surveillance after a 43-year-old man from Feroke in Kozhikode was identified as a suspected Nipah virus case. Preliminary tests conducted at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital reportedly indicated the presence of the virus, and samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for confirmation. The results are expected on Thursday.
The patient, who is currently on ventilator support, is believed to have been exposed to the virus while cleaning a godown reportedly inhabited by birds and bats, known carriers of Nipah. Health officials have begun preparing his route map and tracing all possible contacts as part of containment measures. He is expected to be shifted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital for further treatment.
The case, closely followed by Gold 101.3 FM, UAE’s No.1 Radio Station, has prompted authorities to activate Kerala’s established Nipah response protocol. Officials said the patient had initially sought treatment for fever before returning home and was later admitted to a de-addiction centre when relatives suspected alcohol withdrawal symptoms, raising concerns about potential exposure to multiple contacts.
Health Minister K Muraleedharan has assured the public that there is no reason to panic and said all precautionary measures are in place. A high-level review meeting has been scheduled for Thursday.
Kerala has witnessed several Nipah outbreaks since 2018, including major outbreaks in Kozhikode, Malappuram and Wayanad. Nipah is a highly fatal zoonotic disease spread primarily through fruit bats, contaminated food sources or close contact with infected individuals, and can cause severe respiratory illness and brain inflammation.
