Authorities in Malappuram have issued strict guidelines in the district from Monday, September 16, onwards, after a 23-year-old student passed away from a Nipah virus.
One of the main precautions is wearing masks to avoid spreading the virus. This rule will remain in effect until further notice.
The young man was originally from Chembaram near Naduvath in Wandoor. He passed away on September 9 at a private hospital in Perinthalmanna. Health and revenue officials are now mapping out the deceased’s movements and compiling a list of people he had contacted.
In response to the incident, district officials have imposed strict restrictions in four wards of the Thiruvali panchayat and one ward from the neighbouring Mampad panchayat. All theatres and educational institutions in these areas have been told to close until further notice. Officials have also banned public gatherings, with instructions that if any events are happening, they must comply with all Nipah safety protocols.
This isn’t the first time Nipah has claimed a life in the region; back in July 2024, a 14-year-old boy from Malappuram also died from the virus, prompting authorities to enforce strict lockdown measures at that time.
