Centre orders strict Nipah containment measures after suspected case in Keralam

The Central government has directed health authorities to strictly implement containment protocols following the detection of a fresh Nipah virus case in Keralam as officials closely monitor the situation and assess the potential risk of further transmissionThe Centre is maintaining regular contact with the Keralam government and has advised state authorities to ensure that all standard operating procedures for surveillance contact tracing isolation and infection control are followed without delay government sources told ANIThe patients sample has also been sent to the National Institute of Virology NIV Pune for confirmatory testingPatient on ventilator supportKeralam Health Minister K Muraleedharan said preliminary test results had indicated a Nipah virus infection although final confirmation from the National Institute of Virology is still awaitedThe results are positive Test results from the Virology Institute are awaited the minister told reporters on ThursdayAccording to state health officials the patient was initially admitted to Crescent Hospital in Kozhikode after developing a high fever He was later shifted to another healthcare facility as his condition deterioratedDoctors reportedly began suspecting a Nipah infection after the fever persisted despite treatment and additional symptoms raised concerns about the viral diseaseThe patient is currently receiving treatment on ventilator support officials saidHealth authorities trace 77 contactsThe Keralam government has launched an extensive contacttracing exercise to prevent the possible spread of the virusAccording to the Health Minister authorities have identified 77 individuals who came into contact with the patient These include 58 healthcare workers 14 family members and five friendsOfficials said none of the identified contacts have shown symptoms of the disease so far However all individuals are being closely monitored as a precautionary measureHealth teams have also intensified surveillance in the affected area and are conducting risk assessments to identify any additional contactsAuthorities issue public advisoryThe state government has urged residents to remain vigilant particularly during the period between May and September which health authorities consider a highrisk season for Nipah virus transmissionThe minister advised people to avoid direct contact with bats and to report unusual bat activity to local authoritiesPublic health officials have also encouraged residents to maintain hygiene precautions avoid consuming fruits that may have been contaminated by bats and seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever headache respiratory distress or neurological complicationsNipah remains a serious public health concernNipah virus is a zoonotic disease that is primarily transmitted from animals to humans most commonly through fruit bats which are recognised as the natural reservoir of the virusHuman infections can occur through direct contact with infected animals consumption of contaminated food products or exposure to bodily fluids of infected individuals The virus can also spread from person to person through close contactSymptoms can range from fever and respiratory illness to severe neurological complications including encephalitis In severe cases the infection can be fatalKerala has witnessed multiple outbreaksKerala has experienced several Nipah outbreaks over the past decade prompting authorities to establish specialised surveillance and response mechanismsThe states health system has repeatedly activated rapidresponse teams and containment measures whenever suspected cases have emergedEarlier this year a nurse infected with the Nipah virus died following a cardiac arrest in West Bengal marking one of the notable cases reported in the country in recent yearsCentre and state intensify monitoringWith a fresh case now under investigation both the Centre and the Kerala government have intensified monitoring efforts to ensure early detection of any additional infectionsOfficials said containment measures surveillance activities and public awareness campaigns have been strengthened as a precautionary step while health authorities await final confirmation from the National Institute of VirologyThe Centre has emphasised that strict adherence to established protocols remains critical to preventing further transmission and ensuring a swift public health responseWith inputs from PTI