A 38-year-old woman from Kerala’s Palakkad district has also been confirmed positive for the Nipah virus, leading to quick containment and surveillance by health officials. Another case, in Malappuram, is still under test.
The infected woman from Nattukkal is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Perinthalmanna, Malappuram district. Her samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for tests.
“District collector had told me that the woman is confirmed to have tested positive for Nipah virus,” said Muhammed Saleem KP, head of the local panchayat.
Containment Zones Declared, Contact Tracing Underway
Officially, they have started marking places where there could be spread. “Ward number 8 was announced as a containment zone along with some other partially infected wards within a three-kilometre-radius,” added Saleem.
Health authorities have drawn up a list of contacts who might have had contact with the patient prior to her diagnosis. At least 100 contacts have been identified by officials as high-risk contacts.
State Adopts Nipah Protocols in Affected Districts
Kerala Health Minister Veena George informed that the state had already started adopting Nipah virus protocols in Palakkad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode even before the confirmation of the new case.
“Under the protocols, 26 teams in each region have been constituted for contact tracing, surveillance of symptoms in quarantined individuals and public informing,” she added.
Nipah Virus: A Recurring Threat in Kerala
The Nipah virus, which is spread by fruit bats and animals like pigs, can induce acute encephalitis (brain swelling) in people. Since no vaccine or treatment is available, the virus is characterized by signs such as fever, cough, sore throat, headache, vomiting, and confusion. The fatality rate is 40% to 75%, which puts it on the list of the deadliest known viruses.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has Nipah ranked as a priority pathogen because of its epidemic potential.
Kerala has reported frequent Nipah outbreaks since 2018. That year, 17 people died. In 2019, a single case was reported and survived. In 2021, a 12-year-old boy succumbed. In 2023, eight people were infected and two died. Two deaths were reported in 2024. Most recently, in May 2025, a 42-year-old woman tested positive and recovered.
Vigilance Urged as Kerala Continues Battle Against Nipah
As the virus struck once again, Kerala’s health officials are calling people to exercise caution. Intensified monitoring, containment areas, and medical preparedness are now being implemented in the affected districts.
The authorities lay stress on coming forward in early stages of symptoms and not exposing oneself to positive cases or animals.
The state continues to count on rapid contact tracing and quarantine to avert further transmissions, as measures are ramped up to contain yet another public health panic.
