A 43-year-old man exhibiting symptoms suggestive of Nipah virus infection has been admitted to a hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala. Preliminary tests conducted at the medical college have indicated a possible Nipah infection, prompting health authorities to initiate precautionary measures while awaiting confirmation from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.
Health Minister Urges Calm
Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan stated that there is no reason for public panic. He confirmed that the patient's samples have been sent to NIV Pune, and further decisions will be made upon receiving the results. The minister added that the patient had recently rented a godown and personally cleaned it, raising suspicions that bats may have been present at the site.
Precautionary Measures and Contact Tracing
Based on the patient's symptoms and preliminary findings, health officials are treating it as a suspected case. The health department has issued an alert, and authorities are tracing the patient's extensive contact history. The Ramanattukara municipality, where the patient resides, convened an emergency meeting to review the situation.
According to Muraleedharan, the man initially recovered from a bout of fever but developed fever again a few days later. During this period, he visited hospitals multiple times, first seeking treatment at an outpatient wing and later undergoing diagnostic procedures, including an MRI scan. This led to significant contact exposure. Hospital staff and others who came into contact with the patient have been asked to go into quarantine.
High-Level Meeting and Route Mapping
On Thursday noon, the minister will chair a high-level meeting at his office to assess the situation. Authorities are also preparing a detailed route map of the patient's movements to identify and monitor contacts. The patient was shifted from the private hospital to Kozhikode Medical College at 11 pm. The medical college has imposed restrictions around the pay ward and nearby areas, as the Nipah isolation ward is functioning inside the hospital.
