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Nipah virus disease reported in Kerala, India
The WHO reports one laboratory-confirmed Nipah virus infection in Kozhikode district, Kerala, India, and monitoring of 104 contacts.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says Kerala State Health Department confirmed one laboratory-confirmed case of Nipah virus (NiV) infection in Kozhikode district, India. NiV is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can spread between animals and people.
The WHO reports the case involved neurological manifestations, and the patient was on ventilatory support in an ICU. Nipah virus can be transmitted to humans through infected animals, contaminated fruit products like raw date palm juice, or close contact with infected individuals.
The WHO says 104 contacts have been identified and were under monitoring, with no reported secondary cases to date. Public health measures include isolation, contact tracing, and enhanced surveillance, and additional cases cannot be excluded.