The State Health Systems Resource Centre (SHSRC) Kerala plays a crucial role in disaster management across the state. This financial year, Kerala faced a significant public health challenge: the Nipah virus outbreak in Malappuram District on July 20. However, through technical expertise and efficient management, the state successfully averted a major crisis. To assess the situation and develop preventive measures, the Kerala Government held strategic meetings with SHSRC Kerala and proposed action plans.

The Nipah outbreak emerged in July, marking the first occurrence of the virus in Kerala this financial year. Acting swiftly, Health and Family Welfare Minister Veena George convened an emergency meeting with the heads of the health department to coordinate a response. SHSRC Kerala’s Executive Director, V. Jitesh, actively participated in the meeting and joined the investigation team to trace the source of the outbreak.

With extensive experience and in-depth expertise in Nipah virus evaluation, SHSRC Kerala provided critical support to the health department in assessing and managing the situation. Notably, in the previous year, SHSRC Kerala had drafted a proposal to establish the Kerala One Health Center for Nipah Research (KOHCNR) in Kozhikode District and also developed a Standard Operating Procedures for Nipah related Studies. Building on this initiative, the organization has now launched an implementation research study aimed at developing an early warning system to detect future Nipah outbreaks in Kerala.