KSUM-backed Startup VitalView AI Flagged Chances of Nipah Incidence in Kerala

KOCHI:
Public health intelligence startup VitalView AI, backed by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), flagged the possibility of Nipah virus incidence in Kerala’s Malappuram district, months before a positive case was confirmed.

Analysing over 6,000 data points from WHO outbreak archives, bat ecology, genomic sequences and environmental features, VitalView AI forecast this scenario months in advance, prompting authorities to take action to contain spread of virus, said Amal Shehu, Founder & CEO of VitalView AI.

Based on its findings, VitalView AI had published a predictive alert highlighting the high-risk zones in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts, with 82% outbreak probability.

The analysis cited May to September as peak spillover period due to bat migration and fruit harvesting. AI-detected deforestation patterns raised spillover likelihood by 40%.

VitalView AI’s AI models also identified Bangladesh-genotype dominance with localized Pteropus bat-driven mutations in Kerala strains.

This validation reinforces the need for AI-powered outbreak forecasting, vaccine trial prioritization (e.g., ChAdOx1 NipahB), and geofenced hyperlocal alerts, Amal Shehu said. “VitalView AI works closely with medical institutions to integrate predictive intelligence into healthcare infrastructure. We invite health departments, hospitals, and international health bodies to collaborate on early warning deployments and epidemic prevention, he added.