Latest news with #Nipah-affected
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
499 people in Nipah contact list in Kerala: State Health Minister
New Delhi: Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Thursday said that there are 499 people in the contact lists of the two persons who were infected with the Nipah virus in the state. The two infected included an 18-year-old girl from Malappuram district who died due to the infection and the other is a 38-year-old woman from Thachanattukara in Palakkad district who is currently undergoing treatment in Kozhikode. Of the 499 in the contact list, 203 are in Malappuram, 116 in Kozhikode, 178 in Palakkad and two in Ernakulam districts of the state, the minister said in a statement. In Malappuram, 11 people are under treatment with two in the ICU, while in Palakkad three are being treated in isolation wards, she said. A total of 29 people in the state are in the highest risk category and 117 in the high risk category, she added. Meanwhile, the Malappuram district administration said that in view of no new cases of Nipah being reported from there, containment zones have been removed and restrictions have been lifted. On Wednesday, a central team had arrived in Kerala to visit Nipah-affected areas in two northern districts and coordinate preventive efforts. The National Joint Outbreak Response Team, appointed by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, visited Malappuram district to study the Nipah situation, report it to the Centre, and assist the state in preventive measures. Nipah virus infection, according to the WHO website, 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.
Deccan Herald
10-07-2025
- Health
- Deccan Herald
Central team in Kerala to visit Nipah-affected areas
A central team arrived in Kerala on Wednesday to visit Nipah-affected areas in two northern districts and coordinate preventive efforts. The National Joint Outbreak Response Team, appointed by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, visited Malappuram district to study the Nipah situation, report it to the Centre, and assist the state in preventive measures, official sources here said. Besides Malappuram, another case of Nipah infection was reported from neighbouring Palakkad district. Dr Pranay Verma, the Joint Director and Public Health Specialist at the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), is leading the 10-member expert team, an official statement said here. The team also includes scientists from the ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, wildlife specialists, veterinary consultants, and experts from the animal welfare department. They met District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr R Renuka and held discussions. Another National Institute of Virology (NIV) team of eight members led by Dr E Dilip Patil will soon arrive in the district to monitor and survey bats. This team is currently based in Palakkad, the statement added.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Central team in Kerala to visit Nipah-affected areas
Malappuram (Kerala): A central team arrived in Kerala on Wednesday to visit Nipah-affected areas in two northern districts and coordinate preventive efforts. The National Joint Outbreak Response Team, appointed by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, visited Malappuram district to study the Nipah situation, report it to the Centre, and assist the state in preventive measures, official sources here said. Besides Malappuram, another case of Nipah infection was reported from neighbouring Palakkad district. Dr Pranay Verma, the Joint Director and Public Health Specialist at the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), is leading the 10-member expert team, an official statement said here. The team also includes scientists from the ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, wildlife specialists, veterinary consultants, and experts from the animal welfare department. They met District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr R Renuka and held discussions. Another National Institute of Virology (NIV) team of eight members led by Dr E Dilip Patil will soon arrive in the district to monitor and survey bats. This team is currently based in Palakkad, the statement added. Meanwhile, the Palakkad native, infected with Nipah virus, continues to remain at the government medical college in Kozhikode, sources said. Another patient, a Malappuram native, succumbed to the virus infection last week. State Health Minister Veena George said as many as 498 people are in the Nipah contact list in Kerala at present. Of this, 203 people are in Malappuram, 116 in Kozhikode, 177 in Palakkad, and two in Ernakulam, she said in a statement here. The test result of a 78-year-old woman, who was on the contact list of a person who died of the virus infection in Malappuram recently, has turned out to be negative, she said. During a high-level meeting conducted on Wednesday, the Minister ordered that preventive measures according to the Nipah calendar be vigorously continued until September. PTI>
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Nipah virus in Kerala: Over 400 under surveillance, containment zone declared; One critical, one dead
Kerala Health Minister Veena George has confirmed that 425 individuals have been placed on the Nipah virus contact list across the state. Malappuram district has reported the highest number of contacts at 228, followed by 110 in Palakkad and 87 in Kozhikode. Among those identified, one person has tested negative. Health authorities have launched extensive surveillance and containment measures in response. What is Nipah virus and where it started Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly fatal zoonotic virus, meaning it spreads from animals to humans. It causes acute encephalitis, respiratory distress, and in many cases, death. The virus was first identified in Malaysia in 1999 and has since led to multiple deadly outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia. Kerala has experienced six such outbreaks, making it the most Nipah-affected state in India. The state's first outbreak in 2018 occurred in Perambra, Kozhikode, and resulted in 17 deaths, including that of nurse Lini Puthussery, who contracted the virus while treating the index patient. Investigations later confirmed that fruit bats , also known as flying foxes, were the likely source. Nipah virus can spread through direct contact with infected animals such as pigs, consumption of fruits or palm sap contaminated by fruit bats, and human-to-human transmission via bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. Nipah virus symptoms and precautions Common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, seizures, coma, and encephalitis. There is currently no vaccine for Nipah virus, and treatment is primarily supportive. Live Events The Health Department has advised the public to stay alert, avoid consuming fruits bitten by bats, and to seek medical attention promptly if symptoms occur. Containment measures underway in affected districts In Malappuram district, field operations are focused on tracing the source of the outbreak and halting further spread. Surveillance has been conducted in 20 wards across the panchayats of Makkaraparamba, Kuruva, Koottilangadi, and Mankada. A total of 65 teams visited 1,655 households for door-to-door awareness and contact tracing. The survey was led by Dr N.N. Pameela, with support from C.K. Suresh Kumar, M. Shahul Hameed, and epidemiologist Dr Kiran Raj. The team's report has been submitted to District Medical Officer Dr Renuka. In Palakkad, one individual is in isolation while 61 healthcare workers have been identified as close contacts. The health department has opted for local isolation with samples sent for testing. A three-kilometre radius around the patient's house has been declared a containment zone, with strict surveillance being carried out by the district collector and district police chief, said Kerala's Health minister to PTI. A Malappuram native, had succumbed to the virus last week as reported by PTI. In Kozhikode, all 87 individuals on the contact list are healthcare professionals who may have been exposed during treatment or response activities. Coordination efforts and resource deployment Route maps of confirmed cases in Palakkad and Malappuram have been released to support contact tracing and raise public awareness. Ambulance services, including the Kaniv 108 fleet, have been placed on standby. Fever surveillance in the affected regions has also been strengthened. The Health Minister stressed the importance of providing psychological support to individuals under observation. Fruit bats are once again suspected to be the source of the virus. A high-level review meeting chaired by Veena George was convened in the district. The session included senior officials such as the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, the NHM State Mission Director, the Director of Medical Education, Additional Directors, District Collectors, District Medical Officers, police officials, and representatives from other departments.
NDTV
06-07-2025
- Health
- NDTV
425 Under Surveillance As Kerala Battles Fresh Nipah Virus Outbreak
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Health Minister Veena George has confirmed that 425 individuals have been placed on the Nipah virus contact list across the state. The highest number of contacts, 228, is in Malappuram district, followed by 110 in Palakkad and 87 in Kozhikode. Among those on the contact list, one person has tested negative for the virus so far. Health authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have initiated widespread surveillance and containment measures in the affected areas. In Malappuram district, intensive fieldwork is underway to trace the origin of the outbreak and prevent further spread. Surveillance operations have been conducted in 20 wards across the panchayats of Makkaraparamba, Kuruva, Koottilangadi, and Mankada. A total of 65 teams visited 1,655 households as part of door-to-door awareness campaigns and contact-tracing efforts. The survey was led by Dr N.N. Pameela, with technical support from C.K. Suresh Kumar, M. Shahul Hameed, and epidemiologist Dr Kiran Raj. The team has submitted a detailed report to the District Medical Officer, Dr Renuka. In Palakkad, one individual remains in isolation, while 61 healthcare workers have been identified as close contacts. The health department has decided to isolate individuals locally, with only their samples being sent for testing. Route maps of confirmed cases in Palakkad and Malappuram have been released to aid public awareness and contact tracing. In Kozhikode, all 87 individuals on the contact list are healthcare professionals who were potentially exposed during treatment or response efforts. To manage the situation, ambulance services, including the Kaniv 108 fleet, have been placed on standby. Fever surveillance has been intensified in the affected areas, and the Health Minister has emphasised the importance of providing psychological support to those under observation. Efforts to trace the source of the outbreak have also been stepped up. Fruit bats, known carriers of the Nipah virus, are once again suspected to be the source. A high-level review meeting chaired by Health Minister Veena George was held in the district. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, the NHM State Mission Director, the Director of Medical Education, Additional Directors, District Collectors, District Medical Officers, police officers, and representatives from various departments. Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly fatal zoonotic virus, meaning it spreads from animals to humans. It causes acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), respiratory distress, and in many cases, death. The virus was first identified in Malaysia in 1999 and has since triggered several deadly outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia. Kerala has now reported six Nipah outbreaks, making it the most Nipah-affected state in India. The state's first outbreak in 2018, centred in Perambra, Kozhikode, claimed 17 lives. Among the dead was nurse Lini Puthussery, who succumbed to the virus after treating the index patient before a diagnosis was confirmed. Investigations later confirmed that fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, were the likely source of the virus. Nipah spreads through direct contact with infected animals (like pigs), consumption of fruits or palm sap contaminated by fruit bats, and from human to human through contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. Symptoms of the infection include fever, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, seizures, coma, and encephalitis. There is currently no vaccine for Nipah, and treatment is primarily supportive. The Health Department has urged the public to remain alert, avoid consuming fruits bitten by bats, and seek medical attention promptly if symptoms arise.
