Three Nipah virus cases reported in Kerala in 2025, 677 contacts were traced: Govt tells LS

By Admin

02 Aug, 2025

New Delhi, August 2025   In a written statement to the Lok Sabha on Friday, Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav confirmed that three cases of Nipah virus (NiV) infection have been reported in Malappuram and Palakkad districts of Kerala this year. Authorities have traced 677 contacts of the confirmed patients as part of the ongoing containment and surveillance operations.

The announcement has prompted swift action by both the central and state governments, with stringent control measures initiated to prevent further spread. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), continues to play a pivotal role in monitoring and managing the outbreak.

Understanding Nipah Virus (NiV)

Nipah virus is a zoonotic infectious disease, which means it spreads from animals to humans. It is primarily hosted by Pteropid fruit bats, which can transmit the virus directly or through intermediate hosts such as pigs. The infection can cause severe respiratory illness and encephalitis in humans and is known to spread in clusters, especially among close contacts and caregivers.

In India, Nipah virus outbreaks often correlate with the palm date sap collection period, as the sap can be contaminated by infected bats. This pattern has been observed in previous outbreaks in Kerala.

Control Measures and Surveillance

Minister Jadhav highlighted several preventive and containment strategies taken by the health authorities:

• Early surveillance and detection mechanisms have been activated to capture warning signals.
  
  

• Rapid outbreak investigations were launched to guide swift interventions.
  
  

• A National Joint Outbreak Response Team comprising experts from various departments including animal husbandry, forestry, wildlife, and human health was deployed for in-depth review.
  
  

• Whole genome sequencing of clinical specimens was carried out to understand the circulating virus strain. Results indicate similarity to the strains responsible for the 2019 and 2021 Kerala outbreaks.
  
  

Districts including Kozhikode, Thrissur, and Wayanad were placed on high alert along with Malappuram and Palakkad.

Strengthening Healthcare Preparedness

To boost preparedness and response, the Ministry ensured continuous support through:

• Regular training of health professionals.
  
  

• Supply of diagnostic reagents and personal protective equipment (PPE).
  
  

• Coordination with Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories across the country.
  
  

Moreover, public awareness campaigns have been intensified to educate both the general population and healthcare professionals on identifying symptoms and adopting preventive measures.

Ongoing National Initiatives

India’s broader disease preparedness framework is also being reinforced:

• The IDSP monitors over 50 epidemic-prone diseases and is active in all 36 states and union territories.
  
  

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and NIV Pune have expanded their surveillance by enhancing detection of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) in Kerala and West Bengal since late 2024.
  
  

• Under the National One Health Programme, multiple steps have been taken to detect, prevent, and respond to zoonotic diseases such as NiV.
  
  

• Zoonosis committees have been formed in all states and UTs to monitor the status of zoonotic threats.
  
  

The government’s swift action reflects a proactive stance toward outbreak control and epidemic preparedness. Continued inter-agency collaboration, public health vigilance, and community awareness will remain key to containing the threat of Nipah virus in the future.