The state government of Kerala has enforced strict containment measures in the concerned districts following the recent deaths caused by the Nipah virus in the Malappuram district. Since the virus’s first outbreak in 2018, Kerala has seen numerous deaths. The Kerala government promptly designated five wards in two panchayats of the Malappuram district as containment zones after a 24-year old male patient died on September 9,2024 due to an infection with Nipah virus.
The first confirmed example of Nipah infection in 2024 occurred earlier this year on July 21, when a youngster from Malappuram passed away because of the virus. In Kerala, the Nipah virus has been linked to multiple deaths.
Limitations in the district of Kerala
Strict rules are in these zones, where the virus was verified with the intention of preventing its spread. The district authorities have made it quite clear that businesses in the banned zones must be closed by 7PM everyday. To limit the spread of the disease from person to person, public meetings are strictly forbidden. In order to reduce exposure risks, movie theatres, educational institutions, Madrassas, anganwadis and tuition centres are closed in the containment zones. Moreover, wearing masks in public places has been ordered by the government. The number of guests at weddings, funerals and other public events has been limited districtwide. The aim of these rules is to lessen the highly contagious virus’s spread. It has been requested that people cover up in public.
The recent outbreak of the Nipah virus in Kerala has provoked strong public reactions with many wondering why the state seems to be the epicentre of these viral outbreaks so often.
