🦠 Nipah Virus Resurfaces in Kerala: Two Confirmed Cases
VARIOUS QUETIONS REGARDING NIPAH
Table of Contents
SYLLABUS TOPIC HEALTH (GS 2 MAINS)
🎯 UPSC-
- Health governance in India
- Intergovernmental coordination in epidemics
- Crisis response in public health
- One Health approach
- Virus surveillance system India
- State vs central role in disease control
- Ethics in public health response
- Indian health infrastructure
- GS Paper 2 Health Sector
- GS Paper 3 Disaster Management
BACKGROUND / HISTORY
Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, meaning that it can spread between animals and people. Human Nipah virus (NiV) infection is an emerging zoonotic disease which was first recognized in a large outbreak of 276 reported cases in Malaysia and Singapore from September 1998 to May 1999.
📌 Situation Overview
- On July 4, 2025, health authorities confirmed two cases of Nipah virus in Kerala—one from Palakkad (a 38-year-old woman) and another from Malappuram (a 17‑year‑old who died on July 1
- Alerts have been issued in three districts: Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Palakkad, with containment measures activated
🔬 Epidemiological & Lab Response
- Initial positives were recorded at medical colleges in Malappuram and Kozhikode, with confirmatory testing forwarded to NIV, Pune
- In Malappuram, the young patient tested positive post-mortem, triggering quarantine of autopsy personnel .
🛡️ Containment & Surveillance
- 26 rapid response teams deployed per district for contact tracing, symptom monitoring, and communication
- District collectors have been directed to establish containment zones.
- Public helplines have been activated at both state and district levels
👥 Transmission & Case Fatality
- Nipah is a zoonotic virus transmitted via bats, contaminated food, or direct human contact. It has an estimated case fatality rate of 40–75%
- Kerala has previous experience with these outbreaks (2018, 2021, 2023, 2024), typically prompting strong early response .
- A recent study in 2024 found no secondary transmission among acute encephalitis syndrome patients under surveillance, indicating limited spread without respiratory symptoms
📚 Policy & Governance Relevance
- Federal–state coordination: The state issued alerts, but central labs in Pune are vital for confirmation, showing India’s cooperative public health structure.
- Preparedness & resilience: Kerala’s rapid contact tracing and containment reflect a well-honed public health response—a key point for UPSC essays on health systems.
- Wet markets & lifestyle linkages: The spillover from bats to humans underscores zoonotic risks tied to wildlife interaction—a relevant theme in environmental policy and SDGs.
🎯 UPSC Relevance: Key Takeaways
- Public health infrastructure: The importance of virus surveillance and rapid response teams in preventing pandemics.
- Federal coordination in health crises: Seamless tie-up between state notifications and national labs (NIV, Pune).
- Zoonotic threat awareness: Frames arguments on wildlife reserves, human intrusion, and spillover prevention.
- Preparedness narrative: Kerala as a model of health governance—valuable for essays on public administration and crisis management.
Suggested UPSC Answer Structure:
Introduction:
- Brief on Nipah virus and its re‑emergence in Kerala (July 2025, 2 cases).
Body:
- Epidemiological facts & lab confirmation.
- Containment efforts (district alerts, contact tracing, helplines).
- Role of central labs (NIV) and intergovernmental coordination.
- Public health readiness: lessons from past outbreaks.
- Policy implications: zoonoses, One Health, health infrastructure.
Conclusion:
- Kerala sets a benchmark in crisis response; calls for replicating its model nationwid
Syllabus: GS 2 – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
| An athlete participates in Olympics for personal triumph and nation’s glory; victors are showered with cash incentives by various agencies, on their return. Discuss the merit of state sponsored talent hunt and its cultivation as against the rationale of a reward mechanism as encouragement. | 2014 |
| Should the premier institutes like IITs/IIMs be allowed to retain premier status, allowed more academic independence in designing courses and also decide mode/criteria of selection of students. Discuss in light of the growing challenges. | 2014 |
| The quality of higher education in India requires major improvements to make it internationally competitive. Do you think that the entry of foreign educational institutions would help improve the quality of higher and technical education in the country? Discuss. | 2015 |
| Public health system has limitations in providing universal health coverage. Do you think that the private sector could help in bridging the gap? What other viable alternatives would you suggest? | 2015 |
| Professor Amartya Sen has advocated important reforms in the realms of primary education and primary health care. What are your suggestions to improve their status and performance? | 2016 |
| “Demographic Dividend in India will remain only theoretical unless our manpower becomes more educated, aware, skilled and creative.” What measures have been taken by the government to enhance the capacity of our population to be more productive and employable? | 2016 |
| Appropriate local community level healthcare intervention is a prerequisite to achieve ‘Health for All’ in India. Explain. | 2018 |
| Despite Consistent experience of high growth, India still goes with the lowest indicators of human development. Examine the issues that make balanced and inclusive development elusive | 2019 |
| In order to enhance the prospects of social development, sound and adequate health care policies are needed in the fields of geriatric and maternal health care. Discuss | 2020 |
| National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goals-4 (2030). It intended to restructure and re-orient the education system in India. Critically examine the statement. | 2020 |
| “Besides being a moral imperative of Welfare State, primary health structure is a necessary pre-condition for sustainable development.” Analyze. | 2021 |
| “‘Earn while you learn’ scheme needs to be strengthened to make vocational education and skill training meaningful.” Comment. | 2021 |
| Has digital illiteracy, particularly in rural areas, couple with lack of Information and Communication Technology(ICT) accessibility hindered socio-economic development? Examine with justification. | 2021 |
| The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 remains inadequate in promoting incentive-based system for children’s education without generating awareness about the importance of schooling. Analyse | 2022 |
| Skill development programmes have succeeded in increasing human resources supply to various sectors. In the context of the statement analyse the linkages between education, skill and employment. | 2023 |
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🔹 Prelims PYQs – Health (2016–2023)
2023
- With reference to Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, consider the following statements:
- Private and public hospitals must adopt it.
- As it aims to achieve universal health coverage, every citizen will be issued a Health ID.
✅Which of the above is/are correct?
2021
- Which one of the following is a purpose of the UDAY Scheme launched by the Government of India?
(Even though UDAY is energy-focused, it links to public service delivery, including health.)
2020
- Karnataka’s Health care model was praised by WHO for its role in tackling COVID-19 pandemic. Consider the features of such health response models.
2019
- Which of the following are the features of the National Health Policy 2017?
- Increase public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP
- Provide free drugs and diagnostics
- Strategic purchase of secondary and tertiary services
✅Choose the correct options.
🔹 Mains PYQs – Health (GS Paper 2 & 3)
2023 (GS 2)
- “Public health system in India suffers from many deficiencies.” Discuss the role of cooperative federalism in addressing these challenges.
2022 (GS 2)
- “Institutional quality is a crucial driver of economic performance.” In this context, suggest reforms in Civil Services for strengthening public health delivery.
2021 (GS 2)
- “Health sector reforms are critical for the economic and social well-being of the country.” Discuss in light of COVID-19 experience.
2020 (GS 2)
- COVID-19 has exposed deep-rooted problems in India’s public health sector. Suggest reforms to strengthen healthcare delivery.
2019 (GS 2)
- Access to affordable, quality health care is still a challenge in India. Examine the role of Ayushman Bharat in addressing this issue.
2018 (GS 2)
- Examine the role of the National Health Mission (NHM) in improving health outcomes in India.
2017 (GS 2)
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