A woman classified as a high-risk contact of a Nipah-positive patient who died last month has succumbed to the infection at a state-run hospital in Malappuram, Kerala, on Wednesday.
The deceased was being treated in the same ward as the previous Nipah victim. In response, the Kerala health department has instructed the family to delay the funeral until the final confirmation report is received from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.
Meanwhile, another patient confirmed to have Nipah virus remains in critical condition at Kozhikode Medical College and Hospital.
The virus, first identified in Malaysia in 1999, has seen multiple outbreaks in Kerala, with the first Indian outbreak reported in 2018. Since then, 17 people have died from the virus in the state.
Currently, 482 individuals are on the contact list across three districts: 192 in Malappuram, 114 in Kozhikode, and 176 in Palakkad, where authorities have declared a three-kilometre containment zone around the residence of the critically ill patient.
Field surveillance and veterinary inspections are underway, as fruit bats (flying foxes) are believed to be the primary carriers of the zoonotic virus, which causes acute encephalitis and respiratory distress, and has a high fatality rate.
The virus can spread via direct contact with infected animals, contaminated fruits, or bodily fluids of infected individuals, making early detection and containment crucial.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]

High-Risk Contact Patient Dies of Nipah in Kerala

Malappuram woman succumbs amid rising Nipah concerns; health alert in 3 districts

High-Risk Contact Patient Dies of Nipah in Kerala

Malappuram woman succumbs amid rising Nipah concerns; health alert in 3 districts

July 9, 2025 | 17:50 IST