Kozhikode: Kerala is on high alert as health officials intensify efforts to contain a Nipah virus outbreak after a Palakkad native, now in critical condition, tested positive and is undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Medical College. Health Minister Veena George confirmed that the patient has received two doses of life-saving monoclonal antibody treatment, with the latest administered at 7:30 AM today. The government has prioritized containment, calling the next few days “crucial” in preventing further spread.
This marks the first confirmed case of Nipah in Palakkad district. Authorities have identified 173 people in the patient’s contact list, including 100 primary contacts, 52 high-risk individuals, and 73 secondary contacts. Twelve individuals, including the patient’s mother and child, are currently in isolation under close observation.
The patient was initially treated at a private hospital in Malappuram before being transferred to Kozhikode after receiving the first dose of the monoclonal antibody. As a precaution, containment zones have been established and extensive field surveillance and fever screening are underway in the patient’s locality.
Minister George noted that Nipah is most transmissible during peak symptoms, which the patient experienced around the 1st of the month—making current surveillance efforts vital. Any possible transmission is expected to be revealed through tests conducted in this timeframe.
Meanwhile, the Animal Husbandry Department, with support from the Central Government, is collecting samples from local bat populations to trace the source of the infection. With health teams racing against time, authorities are urging public cooperation to curb the spread of this deadly virus.
