The Nipah virus has been linked to the deaths of dozens of people in Kerala since its first appearance in the state in 2018. Apart from Lini Puthussery, the Kerala nurse who tragically died after coming into contact with the first Nipah virus victim, the outbreak has also brought the state a living martyr.

Titto Thomas is a health worker who has been in a paralyzed state at a hospital in Kozhikode for the past 8 months. The native from Mangalore, was diagnosed with latent encephalitis, a complication of Nipah virus infection, after testing positive for the virus, reports Mathurbhumi.

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He contracted the disease while he was working as a nurse in the Emergency department of the same hospital. Although the 24-year-old was cured of Nipah, he suffered a side effect called latent encephalitis. This would result in the inflammation of the brain.

Titto is now reduced to a vegetative state and relies on Artificial respiration.

The 24-year-old after completing his nursing studies joined a private hospital in Kozhikode on April 23, 2023. At the end of August 2023, he contracted the virus while treating a patient who came to the hospital with a high fever. The patient was later diagnosed with Nipah after his death.

After returning home in November after completing his quarantine, Titto had suffered from severe neck pain and headaches, said his brother Shijo Thomas.

However, Titto did not take the headache seriously and after returning to work in December, he began experiencing severe headaches. Tests were conducted and sent to the Pune Institute of Virology and the results showed that he was diagnosed with latent encephalitis. Titto began undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Though the health department formed a medical board including doctors from the Kozhikode Medical College, there has been no improvement in Titto’s health condition.

Titto’s family believes that if shifted to any other hospital with more facilities, his health condition might improve. However, the main obstacle is the family’s financial situation. Titto’s brother Shijo, had resigned from his job to take care of Titto along with his mother Lissy.  So far, the treatment expenses have been met by the management of the private hospital.

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The management has spent about Rs 40 lakh for treatment. Titto’s family says that they need financial assistance from the government to continue his treatment. And if they get financial help, they believe in bringing him back to life.

The Nipah encephalitis is a subsequent brain inflammation caused by the Nipah virus. It renders the patient unconscious and can lead to seizures and coma. The treatment for Nipah encephalitis is currently given as per the symptoms that the patient displays.