A 42-year-old resident of Valanchery, Kerala, has tested positive for the Nipah virus, experiencing symptoms like fever, cough, and breathing difficulties. 

Recent Nipah virus deaths in Kerala have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the government's response. Despite initially containing the outbreak and declaring Kozhikode and Malappuram Nipah-free, new cases emerged in Ernakulam in 2019 and Chathamangalam, Kozhikode, in September 2021.
 

After a 23-year-old man from Naduvathu near Wandoor died from Nipah virus, the government has imposed additional restrictions to prevent the virus's spread. Malappuram collector V R Vinod has requested the cancellation of Mawlid processions and declared five wards as containment zones.

Upon receiving the positive results from Kozhikode Medical College, a high-level meeting was convened by the health minister on Saturday night. Protocol measures were swiftly implemented to contain the spread. On Sunday, further confirmation of the Nipah infection came from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.

Tito Thomas, a nurse from Kozhikode, Kerala, contracted the Nipah virus while treating a patient in August 2023. Despite recovering from the initial infection, he later developed Nipah Encephalitis, a condition where the virus affects the brain. 

A 14-year-old boy from Kerala's Malappuram, who was diagnosed with the Nipah virus, passed away at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital on Sunday, after remaining critical for two days.

Nipah virus has been confirmed in Kerala for the fifth time in six years, with a 14-year-old boy from Pandikkad Panchayat in Malappuram currently receiving treatment. Restrictions have been imposed in Pandikkad and Anakkayam panchayats. There are 214 individuals under observation, with 60 categorized as high-risk.
 

Nipah virus can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals (particularly fruit bats or flying foxes), their bodily fluids, or consumption of contaminated raw date palm sap.

Karnataka has heightened surveillance in bordering districts due to the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala. The government advises against unnecessary travel to affected areas and has implemented fever surveillance checkpoints at entry points. Various measures, including public education, medical supply readiness, and sample testing, aim to prevent the virus from spreading further.
 

While the exact cause remains uncertain, samples have been collected for analysis. This outbreak has also deeply affected fruit growers. Route maps of victims' movements have been released to aid investigations.