The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine also issued a set of guidelines to guard against the zoonotic disease.
Published Jul 13, 2025 | 6:48 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 13, 2025 | 6:48 PM
Tamil Nadu's preventive move came close on the heels of the Nipah-related death of a 58-year-old man at Perinthalmanna in Malappuram.
Synopsis: Tamil Nadu’s preventive move came close on the heels of the Nipah-related death of a 58-year-old man at Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district.
The health department in Tamil Nadu has stepped up preventive measures in border districts following Nipah virus infection in Kerala’s Malappuram, and Palakkad.
The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine confirmed that no cases have been reported in Tamil Nadu so far but added that medical teams are on high alert. Surveillance has been intensified in areas bordering Kerala, and district health officials have been directed to implement strict monitoring and control measures.
Both Palakkad and Malappuram districts border Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu asked the public to stay vigilant and report any symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, confusion, breathing difficulty, seizures, or fainting, especially if they had recently travelled to affected areas or contacted someone unwell.
People showing such symptoms were asked to seek immediate care at government hospitals. People were also told to avoid eating fallen or unwashed fruits and to follow strict hand hygiene practices.
Tamil Nadu’s preventive move came close on the heels of the Nipah-related death of a 58-year-old man at Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease primarily spread by fruit bats and can also be transmitted through close contact with infected people or animals. The health department has appealed to the public to remain calm, avoid rumours, and rely only on official updates as it continues to monitor the situation in Kerala.
Meanwhile, health authorities in Kerala have intensified contact tracing efforts in Palakkad and Malappuram, with 497 people across the state currently under observation. Those under observation included 203 from Malappuram, 178 from Palakkad, 114 from Kozhikode, and two from Ernakulam. Fourteen individuals were under highest-risk surveillance, and 82 were under high-risk monitoring.
In Malappuram, 10 people were being treated, including one in the intensive care unit, and 62 samples returned negative. Palakkad has five active cases in isolation, while five others have been discharged.
