As per the latest directive, all public gatherings across the district are now prohibited. Wearing face masks has been made mandatory while venturing out, travelling, or attending any permitted events.
Published Jul 04, 2025 | 9:15 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 04, 2025 | 11:05 PM
The district administration has introduced stricter measures for containment zones.
Synopsis: Palakkad district has imposed strict restrictions, including a ban on public gatherings and mandatory masking, after two fresh cases of Nipah virus. The district administration, invoking the Disaster Management Act, has also designated hospital space specifically for Nipah treatment.
Kerala’s Palakkad district administration has enforced a fresh set of restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of infectious diseases.
The action follows the confirmation of Nipah virus infection in a 38-year-old woman from Thachanattukara Grama Panchayat, whose test results were verified by the National Institute of Virology, Pune, on the morning of Friday, 4 July.
The patient is currently under treatment at a private hospital in Perinthalmanna.
Another case has been confirmed in Malappuram: an 18-year-old girl who developed fever and headache on 23 June.
The family administered a home remedy on 24 June and sought hospital care only on 25 June. She died on 1 July and was cremated the following day at Makkaraparamby Juma Masjid.
As per the latest directive, all public gatherings across the district are now prohibited. Wearing face masks has been made mandatory while venturing out, travelling, or attending any permitted events.
The authorities have also appealed to the public to avoid unnecessary visits to hospitalised patients, warning that such visits could pose serious health risks.
The district administration has introduced stricter measures for containment zones. Business establishments in these zones are only allowed to operate between 8 am and 6 pm. Medical stores are exempt from this restriction.
All educational institutions within containment areas – including tuition centres, anganwadis, and madrasas – are barred from conducting offline classes. They are permitted to function only through online mode.
Outsiders are strictly prohibited from entering containment zones. Events such as marriages and funerals must be reported in advance to the local Station House Officer and officials of the health department.
The District Police Chief has been instructed to ensure strict enforcement of these guidelines.
Violators will face legal action under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The district administration stated that the restrictions will remain in force until further orders.
The Palakkad District Collector has invoked powers under the Disaster Management Act to take over the 6th and 8th floors of the Palakkad Institute of Integrated Medical Sciences.
These floors have been handed over to the District Medical Officer for use in prevention and treatment efforts related to the Nipah virus.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Health Department has stepped up containment and surveillance efforts.
Health Minister Veena George said on Friday that a total of 345 people have been identified in the contact list – 211 in Malappuram, 91 in Palakkad, and 43 in Kozhikode.
This includes the confirmed cases in Palakkad and in Malappuram.
All those listed in Kozhikode are health workers. Route maps of the infected individuals have been released, and preventive steps were stepped up even before final confirmation of the cases.
A high-level review meeting, chaired by Minister Veena George, assessed the situation and directed strict contact tracing, particularly around hospitals and healthcare centres.
Officials were asked to check if anyone with possible exposure had been left out of the contact list and to ensure adequate supplies of personal protective equipment across all healthcare facilities.
Efforts are on to trace the exact source of the infection. The two confirmed cases began showing symptoms on June 25 and 26.
Health authorities are now gathering information from the affected regions over the past three weeks, including any recent deaths linked to encephalitis or pneumonia.
Furthermore, experts have cautioned against chasing away bats – the natural carriers of the virus – using firecrackers or other harmful methods.
Containment zones have been declared in two districts, and mask-wearing has been made mandatory within these areas.
In Malappuram, in connection with the suspected case, 20 wards across Makkaraparambu, Kootilangadi, Kuruva, and Mankada grama panchayats have been declared containment zones.
These include:
Twenty-six committees have been set up in Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Palakkad to coordinate containment activities.
Control rooms are now operational at both state and district levels.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
