Kerala placed on high alert as West Nile Virus cases identified in Kozhikode, Thrissur, Malappuram

West Nile virus (WNV), a concerning mosquito-borne arbovirus from the Flaviviridae family and part of the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex, has been reported in Kerala. With 12 confirmed and four suspected cases emerging in just the last week, the state has been placed on high alert. The virus, primarily transmitted through mosquito bites, has been identified in the districts of Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Thrissur.

Health Minister Veena George, speaking to Down to Earth, stated that although a recent death in Palakkad is suspected to be linked to WNV, confirmation is pending test results from the National Institute of Virology in Pune. The virus is known to be spread by mosquitoes after they bite infected birds, typically migratory ones.