MALLAPURAM, KERALA: A 14-year-old boy in Mallapuram district, Kerala, has died from Nipah virus infection, as confirmed by the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. The patient, who exhibited acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) symptoms, was initially admitted to a healthcare facility in Perinthalmanna before being transferred to a higher center in Kozhikode, where he later succumbed to the disease.

In response to the outbreak, the Centre has recommended immediate public health measures for containment. These include active case searches within the family and community, thorough contact tracing over the past 12 days, strict quarantine and isolation protocols, and sample collection for laboratory testing.

A joint outbreak response team from the National ‘One Health Mission’ of the Union Health Ministry will assist Kerala in investigating the case, identifying epidemiological links, and providing technical support. A mobile BSL-3 laboratory has been sent to Kozhikode for testing additional samples from contacts. Although monoclonal antibodies were dispatched for patient management, they could not be utilized due to the patient’s deteriorated condition.

Nipah Virus Disease (NiVD) has previously affected Kerala, with the latest outbreak occurring in Kozhikode in 2023. The virus, primarily carried by fruit bats, can infect humans through contaminated fruit consumption.