From Covid-19 To Nipah, What Makes Kerala The 'Alarm Bell' Of India?
Last Updated:
As of May 19, only 257 active cases were reported nationwide, of which Kerala reported 69 cases, the highest in the country so far.
As Covid-19 cases surge again globally, particularly in Singapore and Hong Kong, health authorities have sprung into action to assess domestic preparedness. The Union Health Ministry is closely monitoring the evolving crisis, concerned about the potential ripple effects of the new Omicron sub-variants fuelling the latest spike.
However, every time a new virus starts making headlines, be it Covid-19 or the Nipah virus, it seems the first red flag rises from one particular Indian state: Kerala. The pattern is so consistent that it often prompts a national question: Why always Kerala? From the first Covid-19 case in India, confirmed in a 20-year-old student returning from Wuhan to Thrissur on January 30, 2020, to the highest number of new cases in the latest Covid-19 resurgence, Kerala continues to lead the national tally.
According to PTI, as of May 19, only 257 active cases were reported nationwide, of which Kerala reported 69 cases, the highest in the country so far. But instead of viewing this as a sign of vulnerability, experts suggest it's precisely Kerala's strength in public health surveillance that puts it ahead in the viral detection race.
A high-level review meeting was convened late Monday night in New Delhi, chaired by the Director General of Health Services. The session brought together top experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Emergency Medical Relief Division, the Disaster Management Cell, and representatives from central government hospitals. Officials reviewed both domestic case trends and international developments.
This early detection isn't a coincidence; it's the result of a robust and deeply integrated health intelligence network that operates across the state. Here's why Kerala is often first to sound the alarm:
Kerala's health infrastructure has long been recognised as one of the most efficient in the country. Its disease surveillance system is rigorous, proactive, and often faster than that of the Centre. From district hospitals to remote primary health centres, every facility is digitally linked and mandated to report any unusual symptoms in real time. Rapid response teams are mobilised as soon as a suspicious case is flagged, enabling quick testing, isolation, and contact tracing.
2. District-Level Micro-Tracking
Each district in Kerala has specialised teams, including virologists and infection control officers, who monitor disease trends daily. Community health workers, often referred to as Kerala's 'health warriors", are trained to detect even minor signs of infection at the grassroots level. This network is so effective that diseases are often 'decoded" in Kerala before they appear on the central health radar.
3. International Mobility and Exposure
Kerala has one of the largest populations of expatriates in India, particularly in Gulf countries. With frequent international travel, especially from regions with high infection risks, the likelihood of importing a virus is naturally higher. These travellers often become the first to present symptoms, prompting the state's quick-response mechanism into action.
4. Kerala as a National Health Model
What Kerala detects early, India eventually prepares for. After Covid-19 first surfaced in Thrissur, other states began adopting Kerala's methods; door-to-door screening, training of local health volunteers, real-time digital health records, and decentralised tracking systems. The Centre frequently dispatches teams to Kerala to study its methods and share insights nationwide.
In many ways, Kerala acts as India's frontline health sentinel – a place where disease trends are first observed, decoded, and reported. While the headlines may often highlight the state's case numbers, they rarely credit its role as the country's early warning system.
First Published:
May 20, 2025, 18:09 IST
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
33 minutes ago
- Economic Times
KKR-backed IVI to buy ART Fertility Clinics for $450 million
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel KKR-backed IVI RMA Global, a US-based leader in infertility treatment, is set to acquire ART Fertility Clinics for $400-450 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The acquisition marks a significant step in IVI RMA's global expansion, adding India to its presence in over 15 countries and more than 190 clinical offices across the US, Europe and Latin parties are in the final stages of documentation for a shareholders' agreement and are hoping to wrap up the transaction by June with private hospitals, the IVF industry in India too is witnessing consolidation as several private equity funds have been aggressive with acquisitions. In 2023, Swedish fund EQT Partners acquired a significant majority stake in Indira IVF, the largest provider of fertility services in India and top five globally in terms of annual IVF cycles, at a $1.1 billion ('9,000 crore) Fertility Clinics began in 2015 as IVI Middle East, an international arm of IVI RMA Global. In 2020, IVI RMA divested the business to Gulf Capital, which rebranded it as ART Fertility Clinics. Since then, the brand has rapidly grown, expanding across West Asia and clinics in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain in the UAE as well as 11 centres across India, ART Fertility has established itself as a high-performance network in reproductive medicine. The Indian expansion began in 2021, backed by a $30 million investment from Gulf Fertility operates in big Indian cities including Mumbai, Noida, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Gurgaon and by Suresh Soni, former co-founder and CEO of Nova IVF Fertility, ART Fertility reports a pregnancy success rate of 70% and has recorded over 5,000 successful pregnancies in under nine to sources, ART Fertility posted revenue of $100-120 million in FY25, with an estimated Ebitda of $35 million."For an Indian healthcare player, a $25-35 million ebitda which is borderline ebitda positive coming from the Middle East would add no value," said a fund manager at a Mumbai-based private equity firm that operates a pan-India IVF chain. "However, IVI being a US player where multiples are low, adding a Middle East business works well."IVI RMA trumped a rival bid by Temasek-backed Cloudnine Hospitals.A KKR spokesperson declined to comment. IVI RMA and ART Fertility did not respond to is the advisor in the is rapidly emerging as one of the world's fastest-growing markets for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). However, the sector has scope for expansion at 210 IVF cycles per million people, compared with 1,200 in the US and over 2,000 in affects approximately 15% of Indian couples, a figure expected to rise due to lifestyle factors such as poor diet, stress, late marriages, and to EY, India's IVF market is expected to grow from $793 million in 2020 to $1.45 billion by 2027, at a projected CAGR of 15-20%.India sees around 300,000 IVF cycles annually, with projections suggesting this could grow to 500,000-600,000 cycles by 2030. About 30% of the market is controlled by 10-15 organised players, while the remaining is fragmented among smaller, unorganised clinics. Key players in India's fertility sector include Indira IVF, Nova IVF, Oasis IVF, Bloom Fertility Centre, Bengaluru-based Milann, Morpheus IVF, Ridge IVF, Akanksha IVF and Bourn Hall IVF, the second largest player in India, is owned by Asia Healthcare Holdings (AHH), the single specialty hospitals platform backed by GIC and homegrown PE fund Kedaara Capital owns a minority stake in Oasis Fertility, while Brussels-based fund Verlinvest owns a controlling stake in Ferty9 F, a premier chain of fertility clinics in the AP/Telangana region.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Seminar on MBBS, global education pathways in Pune draws enthusiastic response
1 2 P une: A large gathering of aspiring students and parents attended an informative Mission Admission seminar organised by The Times of India jointly with The Astute Academy at Dr. Kalmadi Shamarao Junior College auditorium on Sunday. Conducted by Tushar Vinod Deoras, a former BARC scientist and chairman of Astute Academy, the seminar aimed to demystify the complexities of Indian and international admissions for MBBS and higher education. The first session focused on the Indian MBBS admission process, offering clarity for students with NEET scores as low as 200. Attendees also learned about affordable pathways to study medicine in the United States through structured Indo-American university collaborations. The second session delved into undergraduate and postgraduate admissions in the US and Germany. Parents and students were provided with detailed guidance on securing spots at prestigious universities abroad. During the first session, Deoras shared a wealth of information. He pointed out that many private medical colleges offer donation-free management quota merit seats. He explained fee structures, wherein funding is controlled by govt, and proposed to students tripartite Indo-American university partnered systems, which provide affordable, sophisticated modern medical education in the US and subsequently offer employer-relevant value around the globe. The second session was about undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered in the US and Germany, particularly emphasising on Ivy League schools and Germany's technical universities. Deoras noted how flexible and multidisciplinary the US system is, with more emphasis on career focus than rigid course structures. He urged students to start building their profiles as early as Std IX and to apply to international universities at least one year in advance, as most operate on a first-come, first-served basis. He said, "Quality education and a successful career are a student's fundamental right. Students and parents should not judge countries by stereotypes but understand which system aligns best with the student's goals." A highlight of the seminar was its interactive nature. One parent shared, "The session was very enlightening. Many doubts regarding my son's education were resolved, and I feel much more at peace now." Another participant raised a query about dentistry as a career path, to which Deoras responded that it remains an underappreciated but highly rewarding field in India. While initial years in practice may be challenging, dentistry offers significant long-term growth and financial prospects. Deoras also addressed several audience questions about state-wise admission quotas for MBBS, the application process for foreign universities, and the admission timelines and requirements for medical education abroad. The seminar concluded with a positive response from the audience who appreciated the transparency, practical guidance, and motivational approach.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
KKR-backed IVI to buy ART Fertility Clinics for $450 million
KKR-backed IVI RMA Global, a US-based leader in infertility treatment, is set to acquire ART Fertility Clinics for $400-450 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The acquisition marks a significant step in IVI RMA's global expansion, adding India to its presence in over 15 countries and more than 190 clinical offices across the US, Europe and Latin America. Both parties are in the final stages of documentation for a shareholders' agreement and are hoping to wrap up the transaction by June end. As with private hospitals, the IVF industry in India too is witnessing consolidation as several private equity funds have been aggressive with acquisitions. In 2023, Swedish fund EQT Partners acquired a significant majority stake in Indira IVF, the largest provider of fertility services in India and top five globally in terms of annual IVF cycles, at a $1.1 billion ('9,000 crore) valuation. ART Fertility Clinics began in 2015 as IVI Middle East, an international arm of IVI RMA Global. In 2020, IVI RMA divested the business to Gulf Capital, which rebranded it as ART Fertility Clinics. Since then, the brand has rapidly grown, expanding across West Asia and India. Live Events With clinics in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain in the UAE as well as 11 centres across India, ART Fertility has established itself as a high-performance network in reproductive medicine. The Indian expansion began in 2021, backed by a $30 million investment from Gulf Capital. ART Fertility operates in big Indian cities including Mumbai, Noida, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad. Led by Suresh Soni, former co-founder and CEO of Nova IVF Fertility, ART Fertility reports a pregnancy success rate of 70% and has recorded over 5,000 successful pregnancies in under nine years. According to sources, ART Fertility posted revenue of $100-120 million in FY25, with an estimated Ebitda of $35 million. "For an Indian healthcare player, a $25-35 million ebitda which is borderline ebitda positive coming from the Middle East would add no value," said a fund manager at a Mumbai-based private equity firm that operates a pan-India IVF chain. "However, IVI being a US player where multiples are low, adding a Middle East business works well." IVI RMA trumped a rival bid by Temasek-backed Cloudnine Hospitals. A KKR spokesperson declined to comment. IVI RMA and ART Fertility did not respond to queries. Moelis is the advisor in the transaction. India is rapidly emerging as one of the world's fastest-growing markets for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). However, the sector has scope for expansion at 210 IVF cycles per million people, compared with 1,200 in the US and over 2,000 in Europe. Infertility affects approximately 15% of Indian couples, a figure expected to rise due to lifestyle factors such as poor diet, stress, late marriages, and pollution. According to EY, India's IVF market is expected to grow from $793 million in 2020 to $1.45 billion by 2027, at a projected CAGR of 15-20%. India sees around 300,000 IVF cycles annually, with projections suggesting this could grow to 500,000-600,000 cycles by 2030. About 30% of the market is controlled by 10-15 organised players, while the remaining is fragmented among smaller, unorganised clinics. Key players in India's fertility sector include Indira IVF, Nova IVF, Oasis IVF, Bloom Fertility Centre, Bengaluru-based Milann, Morpheus IVF, Ridge IVF, Akanksha IVF and Bourn Hall Clinic. Nova IVF, the second largest player in India, is owned by Asia Healthcare Holdings (AHH), the single specialty hospitals platform backed by GIC and TPG. Similarly, homegrown PE fund Kedaara Capital owns a minority stake in Oasis Fertility, while Brussels-based fund Verlinvest owns a controlling stake in Ferty9 F, a premier chain of fertility clinics in the AP/Telangana region.
