Suspected Nipah virus case: Kerala health minister holds high-level meet, urges people to exercise caution

Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Saturday convened a high-level meeting to take steps to prevent a Nipah outbreak in the state.

The meeting was convened in the wake of an outbreak of the virus infection that was suspected in northern Malappuram district.

According to local media reports, a boy from Malappuram, who is under treatment in a private hospital in neighbouring Kozhikode, was suspected to have symptoms of Nipah and his samples were sent to a central lab for a detailed scientific examination.

As per a statement from the Health Minister's office, the final test results were yet to be received but steps, as per the Nipah protocol, have already been initiated in the morning.

The actions would be coordinated according to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) formulated as per the government order with regard to Nipah prevention, it said.

The health minister would reach Malappuram soon and lead the Nipah prevention activities, the statement added.

Various higher officials, including the health secretary, National Health Mission state director, district collectors of Kozhikode and Malappuram and health director took part in the meeting, it added.

The state government had announced recently that a special action calendar was being prepared for the prevention of a Nipah outbreak, which has haunted the state on four occasions in the past.

The health minister also urged people to exercise caution and suggested some preventive measures.

She advised people not to destroy bat habitats as that could further spread the virus, and urged people to avoid fruits that have bite marks from birds, according to ANI. Stressing on the importance of hygiene, George urged people to wash their hands with soap regularly and also educate children about the suggested precautions, the news agency said.

Nipah outbreaks had been reported in Kozhikode district of Kerala in 2018, 2021, and 2023, and in Ernakulam district in 2019, and the presence of Nipah virus antibodies had been detected in bats in Kozhikode, Wayanad, Idukki, Malappuram, and Ernakulam districts.

(With PTI inputs)