A 24-year-old man from Malappuram, who recently died at a private hospital, was confirmed to have been infected with the Nipah virus, Kerala Health Minister Veena George announced on Sunday. The suspicion of Nipah infection arose following a death investigation by the Regional Medical Officer. Samples were immediately sent for testing, first to Kozhikode Medical College, which indicated a positive result, and later confirmed by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune.

The man, who had returned to Kerala from Bengaluru, died on September 9. His close contacts, including friends he had travelled with, have been identified, and 151 people are currently under observation. Five of those contacts have shown mild symptoms and are undergoing testing.

Minister George stated that 16 committees were formed on Saturday night to manage the situation, and contact tracing protocols have been initiated. The state has faced previous Nipah outbreaks in Kozhikode in 2018, 2021, and 2023, and in Ernakulam in 2019. Nipah virus antibodies have been detected in bats across multiple districts, including Kozhikode, Wayanad, Idukki, Malappuram, and Ernakulam.

Earlier this year, a boy from Malappuram died on July 21 due to Nipah infection, marking the first confirmed case in 2023. The state is taking proactive measures to prevent further spread.