Three Kerala districts on alert after Nipah cases reported in Malappuram, Palakkad

Kerala has reported two confirmed cases of Nipah virus— one in Malappuram district and the other in Palakkad district. An alert has been issued in three districts: Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Palakkad, Health Minister Veena George said on Thursday.

Preliminary confirmation came from tests conducted at Malappuram and Kozhikode Medical College Hospitals. The samples have been forwarded to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for final confirmation.

Even as official results are awaited, the Health Department has ordered immediate tightening of preventive measures. A total of 26 committees have been set up in each district to handle outbreak response, including contact tracing, containment planning, and public communication. The police will support the teams in preparing contact lists and enforcing restrictions.

District Collectors have been instructed to make necessary arrangements for declaring containment zones if required. Helplines at both state and district levels are being activated.

Minister Veena George said the government is moving swiftly to prevent further spread of the infection.

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