Health & Lifestyle
Nipah Patient on Ventilator Receives Monoclonal Antibody Therapy
Experts from the National Centre for Disease Control have arrived in Kerala’s Kozhikode district to assess and strengthen containment measures following the detection of a Nipah virus case. Health authorities have reported no further spread of the infection, with all contacts tested so far returning negative results.
In the wake of the recent Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, a team of experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) arrived in Kozhikode district on Saturday to review the containment measures being implemented by the state health authorities.
The visit comes after a 43-year-old man from Ramanattukara in Kozhikode tested positive for the deadly virus. The patient is currently undergoing treatment at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, where he remains on ventilator support under close medical supervision.
As part of the treatment protocol, doctors administered the first dose of monoclonal antibody therapy to the patient following the recommendation of the Medical Board overseeing his care. The specialised treatment is being used as part of efforts to improve clinical outcomes in severe Nipah infections.
Providing an update from Thiruvananthapuram, Health Minister K. Muralidharan said that there has been no evidence of further transmission of the virus so far.
According to the minister, all samples tested from individuals identified as contacts of the infected patient have returned negative results, offering reassurance that the outbreak remains contained at this stage.
Health officials have identified a total of 87 individuals on the patient’s contact list, all of whom are being closely monitored through surveillance and follow-up measures.
Authorities have intensified preventive efforts in the affected areas, including:
- Enhanced contact tracing and monitoring,
- Isolation and testing of high-risk contacts,
- Strengthened infection-control protocols in healthcare facilities,
- Public awareness campaigns,
- Field surveillance by health teams.
The deployment of the NCDC team is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the ongoing response and providing technical guidance to prevent any further spread of the virus.
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans and, in some cases, through human-to-human transmission. The infection can cause severe respiratory illness and encephalitis, with a relatively high fatality rate, making early detection and containment critical.
Kerala has previously managed multiple Nipah outbreaks through rapid contact tracing, community awareness, and coordinated public health interventions. Officials have urged the public to remain vigilant while avoiding panic and to promptly report symptoms such as fever, headache, respiratory distress, or altered mental status if they have had potential exposure.
The Health Department continues to monitor the situation closely, with authorities maintaining that the outbreak remains under control and that all necessary precautions are being taken to safeguard public health.
