The Kerala Health Department on Monday sounded a health alert in Kozhikode district following two "unnatural" deaths suspected to be due to the Nipah virus infection. The district previously witnessed outbreaks of Nipah in 2018 and 2021, with 17 people succumbing to this zoonotic virus in 2018.
State Health Minister Veena George held a high-level meeting and reviewed the situation, the health department said in a statement on Monday night. It said two "unnatural" deaths following fever were reported from a private hospital, and it is suspected that these were due to the Nipah virus. Relatives of one of the deceased are also admitted to the intensive care unit, it said.
The first Nipah virus (NiV) outbreak in south India was reported from Kozhikode on May 19, 2018. This was the third nipah virus outbreak in India, the earlier being in 2001 and 2007, both in West Bengal. A total of 23 cases were identified, including the index case with 18 laboratory-confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
What is Nipah virus?
Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted to people from animals and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person-to-person. Among infected people, it causes a range of illnesses, from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis, as per WHO.
The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers, WHO said. However, the organisation did not recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions or entry screening related to the NiV outbreak.
