As Kerala declares Ernakulam Nipah-free, youth recalls struggle

On a day the Kerala government declared Ernakulam as a district free from Nipah virus, a youth diagnosed with the virus, who returned home on Tuesday after a 54-day treatment schedule at ASTER Medcity in Kochi, said he was “born again on June 16” — the day he was moved from the isolation ward to a hospital room.

The Nipah virus returned to Kerala for the second consecutive year after the 21-year-old college student from Ernakulam district was tested positive for the virus in early June.

At their village, his parents on Tuesday said they have finally emerged from a spell of “social boycott”. His father said: “After our son was diagnosed with the virus, we were asked to remain within the house. A neighbour arranged provisions for us. It was a period of social boycott, but we don’t have any complaints.”