Executive Summary:
In response to reported Nipah virus infections in Kerala in 2025, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has implemented control measures and initiated steps to contain the outbreaks. 677 contacts were traced in Malappuram and Palakkad districts. A National Joint Outbreak Response Team was deployed, and affected districts were placed on alert. Surveillance and awareness programs were enhanced to prevent further spread.
Key Points / Main Content:
Control Measures and Outbreak Response:
* Early warning signals are captured through surveillance mechanisms to detect outbreaks early.
* A National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) was deployed for assessment and review.
* Malappuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Thrissur, and Wayanad districts were placed on alert.
* Whole genome sequencing confirmed the circulating Nipah virus strain is similar to those from the 2019 and 2021 outbreaks in Kerala.
* Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) are supported with training, PPE, and diagnostic reagents.
Public Awareness and Healthcare Professional Training:
* Public and healthcare professional awareness regarding Nipah virus disease has been enhanced.
Future Prevention Measures:
* The Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) monitors and responds to outbreak-prone diseases.
* Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and ICMR National Institute of Virology (NIV) have strengthened Nipah surveillance through Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) surveillance.
* A comprehensive guideline on Nipah Virus has been prepared and is accessible online.
* The National One Health Programme for Prevention and Control of Zoonotic Diseases (NOHPPCZ) strengthens prevention, detection, and response capacities.
* Zoonosis committees have been formed in all States/UTs to review the status of zoonotic diseases.
* Capacity building of medical and veterinary professionals is being conducted through regional and state-level institutes.
* 75 Sentinel Surveillance Sites in 28 States/UTs have been strengthened to understand the burden of priority zoonosis.
* A Technical Guidance on Zoonotic Disease, including Nipah Virus Disease, has been prepared by the Centre for One Health, NCDC.
* An Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) video on Nipah virus disease has been prepared to raise public awareness.
Impact Analysis:
General Public:
* Impact: Increased awareness of Nipah virus symptoms and prevention measures.
* Action Required: Be aware of signs and symptoms, take appropriate actions if infection is suspected.
Healthcare Professionals:
* Impact: Enhanced knowledge and resources for diagnosing and managing Nipah virus cases.
* Action Required: Implement control measures, enhance surveillance, and participate in training programs.
State and Central Government Health Officials:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and monitoring control measures and surveillance programs.
* Action Required: Deploy resources, coordinate with various agencies, and enhance public awareness.
Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Forest and Wildlife Departments:
* Impact: Involved in the investigation and assessment of outbreaks, particularly regarding the role of animals.
* Action Required: Participate in joint outbreak response teams and conduct surveys to understand the transmission dynamics.
Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs):
* Impact: Play a crucial role in diagnosing and monitoring Nipah virus strains.
* Action Required: Maintain diagnostic capabilities, participate in training, and ensure the supply of PPE and reagents.
Key Entities Referenced
Nipah Virus: An emerging zoonotic infectious disease caused by the Nipah virus (NiV) affecting pigs and humans, resulting in outbreaks.
Kerala: A state in India where Nipah virus infection cases were reported in Malappuram and Palakkad districts.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW): The Indian government ministry responsible for health and family welfare, involved in Nipah virus outbreak control and prevention measures.
Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP): An important program under MoHFW that mandates surveillance response to outbreak-prone communicable diseases, including Nipah Virus disease.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): An organization that strengthened Nipah surveillance by enhancing Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) surveillance.
ICMR National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune: A research institute under ICMR that has strengthened Nipah surveillance.
National One Health Programme for Prevention and Control of Zoonotic Diseases (NOHPPCZ): A program with initiatives to strengthen prevention, detection, and response capacities for zoonotic diseases in India, including Nipah Virus Disease (NiV).
Pteropid fruit bats: The natural host of the Nipah virus.
GOVERNMENT OFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2241
TOBE ANSWERED ON01.08.2025
CASES OFNIPAH VIRUS INKERALA
2241 SHRIRAJAA:
PROF. SOUGATARAY:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleased tostate:-
(a) whether Nipah virus infection cases were reported again in some parts of the country
including Kerala and if so, the details thereof along with the number of persons who are on
the Nipah contactlist inthe country;
(b) whether anycontrol measures initiated tocontainandprevent further infectionof Nipah in
the countryandif so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government ascertained the reasons for such widespread communicable
diseases repeatedlyat some hotspots inthe countryandif so, the detailsthereof;
(d) whether a decline in the immunity/resistance power caused the widespread diseases in the
countryandif so, the detailsthereof; and
(e)the steps taken/proposed tobe taken bythe Government tocontainsuch incidentsinfuture?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH & FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (e) 3 Cases of Nipah Virus infection have been reported in Malappuram and Palakkad
district in Kerala in 2025 and a total of 677 contacts were traced. Control measures initiated
andsteps takenbythe Government to containNipah outbreaksisat Annexure.
Nipah virusdisease isan emergingzoonotic infectiousdisease caused byNipah virus
(NiV). It mainly affects pigs and humans. Nipah cases inhumans tend tooccur in a cluster or
as an outbreak especially in close contacts and care givers. The natural host of the virus is
believed to be Pteropid fruit bats (flying foxes). According to the information available fruit
bats play a significant role in the transmission of this disease. The NiV infection closely
follows the spillover of pathogen from fruit bats to intermediate hosts or human beings. In
India majority of the infections coincide with palm date sap collection times. Due to this
Nipah cases occursagainandagain at some areas.Annexure
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2241 FOR 01.08.2025 REGARDING CASES OF
NIPAHVIRUS IN KERALA:
Control measures initiated and steps taken by the Government to contain Nipah
Disease Outbreaks;
Through surveillance mechanism the early warning signals are captured to
generate alerts, detect outbreaks in the early rising phase, outbreak
investigations are conducted and timely appropriate measures are undertaken
by the respective public health agencies to control and prevent the further
spread of the disease.
A National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT), comprising of experts
from Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Forest & Wildlife and
human health, and Bat survey team were deployed for comprehensive
assessment and review of these outbreaks. Malappuram and Palakkad, with
Kozhikode,Thrissur, andWayanaddistricts were placed onalert.
Whole genome sequencing was performed on clinical specimens from all
positive cases. This genomic surveillance aids in understanding the circulating
Nipah virus strain, which belong to similar genotypes of 2019 and 2021
outbreaksin Kerala.
Beyond the immediate outbreak response, Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare (MoHFW) maintained continued support and collaborative
engagement with both Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs)
throughout the year, ensuring training, a steady supply of Personal protective
equipment (PPE) and diagnostic reagents. This sustained effort underscores a
commitment to strengthening regional capacities for infectious disease
preparedness and response.
The State and Central Government health officials worked to enhance public
and healthcare professional awareness regarding Nipah virus disease. These
initiatives ensured that individuals were made aware on the signs and
symptoms of the disease and understood the appropriate actions to take if they
suspected an infectioninthemselvesor others.
Steps takenbytheGovernmentto contain suchincidentsin future-
Under the MoHFW, Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) is an
important programme, which mandates surveillance & response to outbreak
prone communicable diseases. IDSP is implemented in all 36 States/UTs. The
program is responsible for the surveillance of 50 plus epidemic prone diseases
and outbreak investigation. IDSP plays a crucial role in prompt response and
surveillance of emerging and re-emerging diseases including Nipah Virus
disease inthe country.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and ICMR- National Institute of
Virology (NIV), Pune, have strengthened Nipah surveillance by enhancing
Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Kerala state and Severe AcuteRespiratory Illness (SARI) surveillance in West Bengal and Kerala since
October-November2024.
A comprehensive guideline on Nipah Virus has been prepared which can be
accessed onthe linkhttps://ncdc.mohfw.gov.in/nipah-virus-guidelines/
Under National One Health Programme for Prevention and Control of
Zoonotic Diseases (NOHP-PCZ) various initiatives are taken to strengthen
prevention, detection, and response capacities for zoonotic diseases in India,
includingNipah Virus Disease (NiV)
For institutionalization of One Health at National, State and district level –
Zoonosis committee have been formed in All States /UTs to review status of
allzoonotic diseases including Nipah virus
CapacityBuildingof medicalandveterinaryprofessional uptofrontline health
/vet workers isthrough Regional andstate levelinstitutes.
For understanding burden of priority zoonosis and efficient management 75
Sentinel Surveillance Sites in 28 States/ UTs strengthened under medical
colleges/vetcolleges.
Centre for One Health,NCDC hasprepareda Technical Guidance onZoonotic
Disease, including Nipah Virus Disease and may be accessed at link below
https://ncdc.mohfw.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Technical-Guidance-o
n-Zoonotic-Disease.pdf
Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) video on Nipah virus
disease has been prepared to create awareness in the public and prevent the
spread of the disease. The IEC may be accessed at link below
https://ncdc.mohfw.gov.in/iec-material-on-zoonotic-disease-nipah/
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