Nipah Virus Death Reported in Kerala; 3 Districts on High Alert

Kozhikode, Kerala, July 5 – A person infected with the Nipah virus has died in Kerala, prompting health officials to place three districts—Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Kannur—on high alert.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George confirmed that samples tested positive at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. The patient was being treated in a private hospital in Kozhikode.

Authorities have started contact tracing, and nearby hospitals have been asked to stay prepared. The health department is also setting up isolation wards and following strict protocols to prevent the virus from spreading.

The state had earlier faced deadly Nipah outbreaks in 2018, 2019, and 2023. The virus spreads from animals to humans and can cause serious illness or death.