Representational Image
| Photo Credit: CK Thanseer
Kerala is back in focus after the preliminary test of a man in Kozhikode turned positive, sparking renewed interest in the zoonotic viral disease.Kozhikode Nipah virus case: All you need to knowA 43-year-old man with encephalitis symptoms has been undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Kozhikode, Kerala, even as authorities are awaiting the lab results of his body fluid samples sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for the Nipah infection.The preliminary test for Nipah virus infection at the MCH returned positive, officials said on Thursday (June 11, 2026)Governmental responseHealth Minister K. Muraleedharan is convening a meeting involving the Director of Medical Education, the Director of Health Services, and other officials in the State capital, Thiruvananthapuram.Health officials have begun tracing his whereabouts, and a route map to trace his contacts was being prepared. Kozhikode has had Nipah outbreaks in 2018 and 2023 and a spillover case in 2021.Nipah symptomsThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC says that the symptoms of Nipah virus include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, and difficulty breathing. Later in the infection, some people may experience brain swelling, or encephalitis, and severe symptoms can include confusion, drowsiness, and seizures. While the CDC is one of the world’s leading resources for disease control, it is recommended to go to the doctor and use resources shared by the authorities, post verification.What to do if you suspect a Nipah infection?One of the first things to do if you have any of the above-listed symptoms is not to panic and use the resources shared by the authorities to safely alleviate your concern or take the relevant next steps. Here’s what you can do:
