Kerala Confirms Nipah Virus Case in 14-Year-Old Boy

Kerala Health Minister Veena George has confirmed a Nipah virus infection in a 14-year-old boy from Malappuram district. The boy is currently under treatment at a private hospital and will be shifted to the government medical college at Kozhikode. Contact tracing is underway, and high-risk contacts have been isolated.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Saturday confirmed that a 14-year-old boy from Malappuram district has been infected with the Nipah virus. The Pune National Institute of Virology verified the infection, and the boy is currently being treated at a private hospital.

Minister George mentioned that the boy will be transferred to the government medical college in Kozhikode for further treatment. She added that contact tracing has commenced, and high-risk contacts have been isolated with their samples sent for testing.

George emphasized that the epicenter of the infection is Pandikkad and precautionary measures have been initiated. She urged the local populace and nearby hospitals to wear masks in public spaces and avoid visiting patients in hospitals. The state government is preparing a special action calendar to prevent future Nipah outbreaks.

Nipah virus outbreaks have previously occurred in Kozhikode in 2018, 2021, and 2023, as well as in Ernakulam in 2019. The virus antibodies have been found in bats from several districts including Kozhikode, Wayanad, Idukki, Malappuram, and Ernakulam.