Nipah Virus Returns: Kerala on High Alert After Fresh Case

The Nipah virus has once again left India's public health system on its guard as a new case was reported in Kozhikode, Kerala. The 43-year-old person is being isolated and treated in isolation and the State Health Department has initiated broad contact tracing and monitoring in the community. The government of Kerala has issued the necessary procedures and hospitals have taken measures to limit the spread of the infection. It is notable because Kerala has seen several Nipah Virus outbreaks since 2018, and is one of the most prone places in India for these outbreaks.

Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus which spreads to humans, directly or via contaminated food, from fruit bats (genus Pteropus) and is highly infectious. Close contact with infected persons also can result in human-to-human transmission. Symptoms can be fever, headache, respiratory illness, confusion, and in severe cases, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). The World Health Organization lists Nipah as a priority pathogen, as it has claimed between 40% and 75% mortality in outbreaks in the past. There is no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment and early detection, isolation and supportive medical care are most effective for controlling the disease.

Authorities have stepped up the One Health approach, which involves conducting human, animal and environmental surveillance to monitor and alert authorities to future outbreaks timely. Citizens are advised to avoid eating bat-stung fruits, practice good hygiene and seek medical attention immediately if having been exposed to confirmed cases. There has been no need for panic as Kerala has one of the best outbreak response systems in India after previous Nipah outbreaks, experts have said. The incident warrants that there is a need for continued disease monitoring and readiness for emerging diseases.