The confirmation came on Friday, 4 July morning from the National Institute of Virology, Pune, after her sample tested positive in initial screenings.
Published Jul 04, 2025 | 2:40 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 04, 2025 | 2:40 PM
Nipah Virus. (iStock)
Synopsis: A 38-year-old woman from Palakkad tested positive for Nipah virus, prompting a containment zone and placing over 100 contacts under observation. With no travel history, the source remains unknown. Kerala’s health authorities issued alerts in Palakkad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode, launching surveillance and contact tracing. A high-level meeting reviewed protocols, and district teams were mobilised for rapid response.
A 38-year-old woman from Nattukal in Palakkad district, who was admitted to hospital with Nipah virus symptoms has tested positive for the virus.
The confirmation came on Friday, 4 July morning from the National Institute of Virology, Pune, where the samples were sent after the initial test results at Manjeri Medical College came back positive for Nipah.
The woman, admitted to a private hospital in Perinthalmanna remains under treatment. Health authorities are yet to determine the source of the infection. The patient, a housewife with no recent travel history outside the state or abroad, is under observation.
The patient started having fever twenty days ago, however, she initially sought treatment at hospitals in Palode, Karingallathani and Mannarkkad. When the symptoms didn’t improve, she was taken to the private hospital in Perinthalmanna.
In response, a strict alert has been issued for those who had close contact with the patient. Over 100 individuals — including family members, hospital staff, and others — have been placed under observation.
The eastern part of Nattukal has been declared a containment zone, with restrictions enforced within a three-kilometer radius. Surveillance and contact tracing efforts are ongoing as health officials monitor the situation closely.
The Palakkad district administration has declared six wards in Palakkad as containment zones.
Wards 7, 8, 9 and 11 of Thachhanattukara Grama Panchayat (Kundurkunnu, Palode, Parammal and Chamaparambu respectively) and wards 17 and 18 of Karimpuzha Panchayat (Aattassery and Cholakkurussi) have been declared as containment zones.
It has been announced that commercial establishments, educational institutions and other institutions in these areas will not be allowed to open.
Talking to South First, Thachanattukara Grama Panchayat (Palakkad) president Muhammad Saleem KP said, “We received information regarding Nipah confirmation. The woman hails from Kizhakkumpuram. There a three kilometer radius from the woman’s house has been declared as a containment zone.”
“Panchayat along with health and police departments are in the process of preparing the route map and identifying contacts. The route map will soon be released,” he added.
Meanwhile, state Health Department has sounded an alert in Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Palakkad districts following the detection of another suspected Nipah virus case in Malappuram. Health Minister Veena George chaired a high-level meeting on Friday to review the situation and directed officials to intensify preventive measures in line with established protocols.
“Instructions have been issued to strengthen preventive activities in the three districts,” Minister Veena George said.
Twenty-six committees have been formed in each district to coordinate the response, with police assistance sought to prepare comprehensive contact lists.
District collectors have been directed to take appropriate steps, and health officials have been asked to check for any unnatural deaths reported in recent days.
A state-level helpline and individual district helplines are expected to be activated to assist the public.
A high-level meeting of the Nipah Committee will reconvene on Friday evening to assess the situation and decide on further steps.
This comes just weeks after a confirmed case of Nipah virus was reported in May, when a 42-year-old woman from Valanchery in Malappuram district tested positive.
In response, the Kerala government had swiftly launched containment operations, activating 25 rapid response teams to oversee surveillance, contact tracing, and public awareness efforts.
All contacts in both high-risk and low-risk categories were monitored for 21 days, while hospitals were instructed to implement strict infection control protocols.
Availability of essential medicines was also ensured across districts.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
