Kerala health department on alert for possible Nipah virus outbreak

Shillong, September 12: The Kerala Health Department has issued a warning following two “unnatural deaths” attributed to fever in Kozhikode, raising concerns of a potential Nipah virus outbreak.

These fatalities occurred at a private hospital in Kozhikode, and a family member of one of the deceased individuals is currently in the intensive care unit, awaiting test results that will be available on Wednesday.

As per IANS, in response to this worrisome development, a high-level meeting was convened, chaired by State Health Minister Veena George, to assess the situation.

Kozhikode has previously witnessed two Nipah virus outbreaks, one in 2018 and another in 2021. The 2018 outbreak led to 23 identified cases, with 17 resulting in fatalities due to this zoonotic virus.

Nipah virus infection can manifest in various ways, ranging from asymptomatic cases to acute respiratory illness and potentially fatal encephalitis in those affected.

The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that Nipah virus infection is zoonotic, transmitted from animals to humans, and can also spread through contaminated food or direct person-to-person contact. This virus can also cause severe disease in animals, particularly pigs, causing significant economic losses for farmers, as noted by the WHO. Vigilance and precautionary measures are critical to containing any potential outbreak.