Nipah virus back in Kerala; woman critical, two others likely infected
Disease confirmed following tests conducted at the Kozhikode Microbiology Lab as well as the Pune NIV Lab after Nipah-like symptoms were observed in the patient
A 42-year-old woman is admitted to a Kerala hospital in a critical condition after being infected by the dreaded Nipah virus.
The woman, from Valanchery, is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Perinthalmanna in northern Kerala for the past four days, media reports say.
Her symptoms include high fever, cough and breathing difficulties. An unnamed doctor was quoted by media reports as saying that she was “in an extremely critical state”.
Also read: Kerala | Malappuram man died of Nipah virus infection, confirms health minister
Disease tested, confirmed
The disease was confirmed following tests conducted at the Kozhikode Microbiology Lab as well as the Pune NIV Lab after Nipah-like symptoms were observed.
This is the third time that Nipah has been detected in Malappuram. The source of the woman’s infection remains unclear.
Two more may be infected
According to media reports, two more people at the woman’s residence were showing symptoms of the illness.
According to medical experts, they did not consume any fruit recently, nor did they have any contact with bats. The hospital was, however, told that their hens died a few days ago.
Also read: Nipah virus possibly present in bats in Wayanad, says Kerala govt
Earlier Nipah outbreaks
A 2023 Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala had led to multiple fatalities. The outbreak was, however, localized to Kozhikode and Malappuram districts.
Outbreaks have previously been reported in 2018, 2019 and 2021.