Nipah infection reported in Kerala’s Kozhikode, 77 contacts identified

A Nipah virus infection case has been confirmed in Kozhikode district, prompting the administration to initiate preventive measures on Thursday.

The infection was confirmed in a 43-year-old man from Ramanattukara, Kozhikode District Collector M S Madhavikutty said. A Government press release said the patient is undergoing treatment in the ICU of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

According to the collector, 77 people have been identified in the contact list of the infected individual. They include 58 healthcare workers, 14 family members, and five friends and colleagues. None of the contacts has reported any symptoms so far, the statement said. Of the 77 contacts, two have been classified in the highest-risk category, 13 in the high-risk category, and 62 in the low-risk category. All those in the highest-risk and high-risk categories have been placed under quarantine, the statement said.

The patient’s route map has also been prepared, the collector said. “Field-level containment and surveillance activities have already commenced. Rapid Response Team meetings were held in Ramanattukara municipality on Wednesday and Thursday as part of preparedness measures,” the collector said.