Kerala health authorities have stepped up surveillance and contact-tracing measures after a 43-year-old man from Kozhikode district tested positive in a preliminary screening for Nipah virus (NiV), a highly fatal zoonotic disease that has caused multiple outbreaks in the state over the past decade.The patient, a businessman from Feroke, is currently on ventilator support at the Government Medical College in Kozhikode after being shifted from a private hospital on Wednesday. Health officials are awaiting confirmatory test results from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.Kerala Health Minister K Muralidharan urged people not to panic and said precautionary measures had already been initiated.“The National Virology Institute’s result is awaited for final confirmation. Based on the symptoms and preliminary test, it points to Nipah,” the minister told PTI.According to him, the patient had recently rented a godown and cleaned it himself, which authorities suspect may have been the source of exposure.“The patient had recently rented a godown and cleaned it himself. We suspect he may have contracted the infection during that process,” he said.The minister added that the patient had interacted with several people before being admitted to hospital, prompting authorities to identify and isolate potential contacts.“He first visited the outpatient section of a hospital. Later, he underwent MRI and echocardiography tests. We have asked the concerned health workers and others who may have been exposed to remain in quarantine,” Muralidharan said.A route map of the patient’s movements is being prepared, and health officials are tracing all contacts while awaiting the final test report.
What is Nipah virus?
Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus, meaning it can spread from animals to humans and, in some cases, between people. The virus was first identified during an outbreak in Malaysia in 1999 and is considered one of the world’s most dangerous emerging infectious diseases.According to Kerala’s Directorate of Health Services, Nipah can infect both animals and humans and has been linked primarily to fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, which are considered the natural hosts of the virus.
How does Nipah spread?
The virus is primarily transmitted from infected animals to humans. Fruit bats can contaminate fruits, food items or surfaces with their saliva, urine or droppings, leading to human infections.According to Reuters, Nipah “spreads largely from infected animals, mainly fruit bats, to humans”. Human-to-human transmission can also occur through close contact with infected individuals, particularly through bodily fluids and respiratory secretions, although experts say the virus does not spread as easily as diseases such as Covid-19.Healthcare workers and family members caring for infected patients are often considered at higher risk of exposure.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of Nipah infection can vary from mild illness to severe neurological disease.Early symptoms typically include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Sore throat
- Vomiting
In more severe cases, the infection can progress rapidly and lead to:
- Acute respiratory distress
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
- Dizziness and confusion
- Seizures
- Coma
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that severe cases can deteriorate quickly and may prove fatal within days of symptom onset.
How deadly is Nipah virus?
Nipah is among the deadliest viral diseases known to affect humans.According to WHO estimates, the case fatality rate ranges from 40% to 75%, depending on factors such as the quality of healthcare, early detection, outbreak management and supportive treatment available to patients.The mortality rate has varied across different outbreaks, but health experts consider Nipah a major public health threat because of its high fatality rate and potential to cause severe neurological complications.
Is there a vaccine or treatment?
Currently, there are no approved vaccines or specific antiviral treatments for Nipah virus infection.Treatment is largely supportive and focuses on managing symptoms, preventing complications and providing intensive care when necessary.Researchers and pharmaceutical companies are working on several vaccine candidates, but none has yet received regulatory approval for widespread use.
Nipah outbreaks in India
India first recorded Nipah outbreaks in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007.Kerala has experienced multiple outbreaks since 2018, making it the state most frequently affected by the virus in recent years.The 2018 outbreak in Kerala was particularly severe, claiming at least 17 lives and triggering widespread public health measures. Subsequent outbreaks in the state have generally been contained more quickly through aggressive contact tracing, surveillance and isolation protocols.The latest suspected case has once again placed Kerala’s health machinery on alert, with officials monitoring contacts and preparing containment measures while awaiting confirmation from the National Institute of Virology.Health Minister K Muralidharan is expected to review the situation at a high-level meeting with senior officials on Thursday as authorities assess the risk of further transmission and prepare additional preventive measures if required.
