A 43-year-old businessman from Feroke in Kerala has tested positive for Nipah virus infection in a preliminary examination at the Government Medical College Hospital Kozhikode, raising concern as health authorities await confirmation from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.
The patient, who was initially admitted to a private hospital before being shifted to Government Medical College Hospital Kozhikode, is currently on ventilator support, officials said. Health authorities have already initiated large-scale contact tracing and isolation measures due to his extensive exposure history.
According to officials, the preliminary test suggests infection from Nipah virus, a rare but highly fatal zoonotic disease spread mainly by fruit bats, with Kerala having recorded multiple outbreaks since 2018.
Health Minister K Muraleedharan stated that the final confirmation is awaited from NIV Pune, but early symptoms strongly indicate Nipah infection. He added that the patient had interacted with a large number of people, including visits to outpatient services and diagnostic tests such as MRI and echocardiography, increasing the risk of exposure.
Authorities revealed that the patient developed fever that temporarily subsided before returning, leading to hospitalisation. Officials also suspect that the infection may have been contracted while the patient was cleaning a rented godown in Feroke.
“The patient is engaged in small-scale business activities. He had recently rented a godown for work purposes. We suspect exposure during that process,” the minister said.
The Health Department has instructed all potentially exposed healthcare workers and contacts to remain in quarantine. A detailed route map is being prepared to identify and isolate all possible contacts.
Officials confirmed that adequate medical arrangements have been made at Kozhikode Medical College, and necessary medicines are available. A high-level review meeting is expected to be chaired by the Health Minister, while authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
Despite the alert, the government has urged the public not to panic, stating that preventive measures and surveillance systems are actively in place pending final laboratory confirmation from NIV.
