Two Primary Nipah Cases Spark Major Concern in Palakkad

The Nipah virus threat in the district has escalated significantly with the confirmation of two primary cases – a development that health officials describe as "very rare" and "a cause for concern".

- SHYAM P V @Palakkad

One of the infected individuals, a 39-year-old woman from Kizhakkumpuram in Thachanattukara, remains under critical care at Kozhikode Medical College since July 4, while another patient, a 58-year-old man from Changaleeri in Kumaramputhur, already succumbed to the virus on Saturday night. Authorities had sent samples from the deceased patient's son after he began exhibiting suspected symptoms on Sunday. The initial tests conducted on the 32-year-old at Malappuram Medical College turned positive for Nipah. However, the samples were subsequently sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, where his latest test results have come back negative, according to a senior health department official. An official confirmation will be issued only after the Medical Board receives final verification from NIV Pune that all samples have tested negative.

Meanwhile, Kumaramputhur grama panchayat president Rajan Ambadath told TNIE that both the District Collector's Office and the District Medical Officer (DMO) had informed him that the 32-year-old youth had tested positive for Nipah.