Nipah Alert: How 'Virus' Film Serves as Warning

The Malayalam film 'Virus,' released in 2019, revisits the events of the 2018 Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, gaining renewed relevance with confirmed cases in West Bengal in early 2026. The film critically examines the 2018 outbreak that began in Kozhikode, detailing how initial confusion and delayed diagnoses allowed the virus to spread rapidly within hospital settings, infecting caregivers and healthcare workers.

Directed by Aashiq Abu, 'Virus' eschews dramatic tropes for a near-clinical portrayal of the crisis. It emphasizes systemic failures – confusion, delayed diagnosis, and lack of preparedness – as key factors enabling the virus's spread. The ensemble cast represents various roles, highlighting the collective effort required once the crisis was recognized, with leadership proving crucial but only effective after initial lives were lost.