KOZHIKODE: Authorities have intensified containment measures in Kozhikode after the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune confirmed Nipah virus infection in a 43-year-old patient from Ramanattukara. The patient is currently on ventilator support and undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of Kozhikode Medical College, where his condition remains critical.
Contact Tracing and Surveillance
Kozhikode collector M S Madhavikutty stated that there are 77 people on the patient's contact list. Among them, 58 are healthcare workers, 14 are family members, and five are friends and colleagues. None of his contacts have reported any symptoms so far. Of those under surveillance, two were classified in the highest-risk category, 13 in the high-risk category, and 62 in the low-risk category. All individuals in the highest and high-risk categories have been placed under quarantine.
The collector confirmed that the patient's route map has been prepared. “The exact source of the virus has not been determined. Two locations are being examined: the godown where the patient had kept his goods and a fruit tree near his home. We are investigating the source,” said Madhavikutty on Thursday.
Containment Activities
Field-level containment activities have already begun, although authorities have not declared any containment zones. Rapid response teams held meetings in Ramanattukara Municipality on Wednesday and Thursday. Personal protective equipment has been made available, said Madhavikutty. After the Nipah confirmation, a control room was opened at the district medical office to provide information and address public queries. The helpline numbers are 04952373901 and 9072007767.
Early Detection by Specialist
Dr A S Anoop Kumar, a critical care specialist at a private hospital in Kozhikode, was the first to suspect Nipah infection in the patient, drawing on his experience from the 2018 and 2023 outbreaks in Kerala. Speaking to TOI, Kumar said the patient developed fever on May 30 and initially sought treatment at a hospital near his residence on June 1. Although doctors discharged him after administering intravenous fluids, he continued to experience excessive fatigue and loss of appetite. He was readmitted on June 7, and doctors attributed his condition to low sodium levels and post-fever weakness.
After being shifted to the private hospital where Kumar works, doctors noticed slurred speech and moved him to the ICU. Investigations, including MRI and cerebrospinal fluid examination, triggered suspicion of Nipah. Reassessment of blood investigations, coupled with Kumar’s previous experience with Nipah, prompted him to suspect the virus. Relatives later informed doctors that the patient had visited a godown at Karad near Feroke, where bats are known to roost, before falling ill. Kumar said the patient was likely the primary case and had limited potential to spread the infection.
Ongoing Investigations
“The forest department will check whether there is any sign of numerous bat deaths at roosting sites,” said the collector. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
