Nipah virus outbreak was first reported from Kerala in May 2018.By the end of May 2019, a 21 year old male patient from a village in Ernakulam district with symptoms suggestive of Nipah virus infection was admitted in a corporate hospital at Ernakulam. His blood sample was sent to NIV, Pune and the report confirmed the clinical diagnosis. Due to the difficulties encountered with transportation and subsequent delay in receiving the reports, Nipah POC testing facility was set up in the department of Microbiology, Government medical college, Ernakulam. A total number of 190 samples received from 52 patients from various districts all over Kerala were tested for Nipah virus from 6/6/2019 to 2/7/19. All samples were negative except the repeat sample received from the index case. Kerala state has an efficient health care system. Because of the combined efforts of the Department of Health Services, Health Education and Health and Family Welfare department of the state Government, Nipah outbreak was stopped with the index case.

Keywords: Nipah virus, Real time -PCR, Nipah IgM ELISA.

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Dr J.Lancy

Professor, GMC, Ernakulam, India