Kerala health authorities respond to new Nipah case in Kozhikode
Face masks have returned to the quiet residential neighbourhood of Melevaram near Farook College in Kozhikode. Residents and health workers are taking preventive measures after a 43-year-old local was diagnosed with Nipah virus infection.
Abdul Azeez, a neighbour, said health workers have informed residents that the infection does not spread as rapidly as COVID-19. “They are visiting the place to monitor the situation every day. But, yes, most of us are wearing face masks while going out as a precautionary measure,” he said.
The infected person has been on ventilator support at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, since June 10. Close family members are under home quarantine, according to Venugopal, a relative.
“All his close contacts are now under observation. Lab tests are held if any of them exhibit any symptoms of the infection. So far, all of them have tested negative for the virus. Let’s hope he will survive the ordeal,” he added.
Health workers from the Ramanattukara municipality have completed a preliminary survey of about 300 houses in the area. Dr. Rajul Koyadeen, medical officer, said a fever survey is ongoing to identify any residents with symptoms of the zoonotic disease. The Health department is coordinating with the departments of Animal Husbandry and Forest as part of the ‘One Health’ initiative. A team from the Indian Council of Medical Research also visited the area.
Nipah virus has a mortality rate of up to 75%. It usually transmits from infected bats and other animals to humans and can also spread between people. Fruit bats of the Pteropus species are the natural hosts. The World Health Organisation lists Nipah as an epidemic threat needing urgent action.
This is the fourth time Kozhikode has reported a Nipah episode. The first official case in Kerala was from here in 2018. The state has recorded 10 episodes till 2025, with 38 cases and 28 deaths. After 2018, there was a single case in 2021 and an outbreak in 2023 in Kozhikode. Cases have also been reported from Malappuram, Palakkad, and Ernakulam.
Dr. T.S. Anish, nodal officer of the Kerala One Health Centre for Nipah Research and Resilience, noted patterns from recurring infections. The virus has been active in Kerala from April to September, with the highest number of cases in September. “The fruiting season in the State is around April. Bat foraging happens during the period. Since fruit bats are the natural reservoirs of the virus, the transmission of the infection through fruits can happen in that month,” he said. The breeding season of bats is also in April-May and September. “They become more aggressive and virus shedding — the release of infectious particles into the environment — increases in these months if they are disturbed,” he explained.
Another pattern is the emergence of Perinthalmanna in Malappuram and Kozhikode city as key locations in the Nipah calendar. Dr. Anish attributed this to the presence of corporate and tertiary care government hospitals where most patients are admitted.
